Module 15. Flow Control

The objective of this module is to discuss some of the practical issues in flow control. After studying this module, the reader should be able to do the following:

• Determine the process gains for typical pieces of instrumentation

• Understand how to determine the proportional band of a controller

• Discuss the flow characteristics of equal percentage, quick-opening, and linear control valves and understand when each should be used

• Realize that control valves should be specified as fail-open or fail-closed

The sections of this module are as follows:

M15.1 Motivating Example

M15.2 Flowmeters

M15.3 Control Valves

M15.4 Pumping and Piping Systems

M15.5 Summary