Process Control: Past,Present,and Future

Abstract

As process technology has shifted from batch to continuous operations, control procedures have also evolved. Manual adjustment of process conditions has been superseded by automatic controllers, which in turn are now being supple mented by computers that can exercise control over entire plants. Justification for these systems is found in greater production capacity, lower raw material and utility costs, and improved quality control. Labor savings have played little part in justifying computer systems for process plants where automatic equipment has already cut the number of people needed to a practical minimum. The future will see continued technical developments in the field and a growing number of installations.