CME8133 : Advanced Process Control
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Mark Willis
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Jie Zhang
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To explore the concept of robustness in control systems design; frequency response methods for control systems analysis and model based control based on the Internal Model Control strategy.
To understand the principles of digital and computer-based process control systems. To learn how to design and implement digital controllers, from simple to more advanced algorithms.
Outline Of Syllabus
Ideal control versus practicable control; Robust control concepts; the role of frequency domain analysis; Bode diagrams and Polar plots; sensitivity functions; describing model uncertainties; robustness analysis; robust performance; robust stability; performance versus robustness; Internal Model Control (IMC) design; Equivalence of IMC to PID control.
Role of computers in process control; fundamental difference between continuous time and discrete time control systems; basic mathematics of sampled data systems; discretised PI/PID controllers; design via the Synthesis Equation; pole-placement control; discrete models for controller design.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:30 | 1:30 | Examination |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Assignment preparation and completion. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Formative Quizzes and Online Materials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 50:30 | 50:30 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures convey the mathematical concepts and theory of process control, the Canvas activity modules support this through illustration and problem solving. Tutorial sheets and other formative activities are used to prepare the students for the end of semester closed book examination. The assignment develops further skills in MATLAB / Simulink, control systems design and application and reporting of simulation based studies.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 50 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | 50 | approx. 2000 words. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | Formative Canvas quizzes |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The examination assesses the following AHEP 4 learning outcomes: M1-3.
The report assessed the following AHEP 4 learning outcomes: M1-6, M12, M17.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CME8133's Timetable