ABSTRACT
MATLAB® has an excellent collection of commands and functions that are useful in solving process control problems. A brief outline of the basic elements in a typical process control system is described in this chapter together with the MATLAB programs. This chapter covers classical techniques but also includes a discussion of state-space modeling and control, a modern control topic lacking in most chemical process control texts. The use of MATLAB programs allows a more general solution that retains all the nonlinear complexities, as well as an optimization of control configurations by rapid trial and error procedures. The main objective of this chapter is to provide readers with problem-solving techniques using MATLAB programs. The MATLAB programs presented in this chapter are written with user-friendly comments so that the reader can follow each step easily. The topics covered in this chapter include the Laplace transform and transfer function, the state-space model, the dynamics of processes and feedback control loops, the stability of the control system, and frequency response analysis. The MATLAB programs provided for these topics may be used for academic or industrial applications as well as for undergraduate or graduate courses on chemical process control. Researchers and practicing engineers in the field of chemical process engineering can apply these MATLAB programs in the analysis and design of process control systems.
