Troubleshooting Process Plant Control: A Practical Guide to Avoiding and Correcting Mistakes

Easy–to–implement solutions that don′t require complex mathematics

Without resorting to complicated concepts, Troubleshooting Process Plant Control, Second Edition provides readers the skills needed to solve typical problems in process control. It′s filled with real–life examples of problems that commonly arise in process control alongside common sense solutions. Moreover, the text is exceptionally easy to understand. While there are many new control concepts presented, they are all solidly based on decades–old technical concepts.

The new edition expands on the first book with the addition of five new chapters as well as new troubleshooting examples throughout the text. It emphasizes well–established process engineering principles that enable engineers and operators to switch from manual control loops to automatic control. Among the new chapters presented are:

Reboiler, feed preheat, refrigeration unit, and vaporizer control Air cooler and shell and tube condenser control Boiler plant and de–aerator, condensate recovery, and demineralizer control Inverted response to a changed process variable Controlling catalytic process units.

With its straightforward explanations, clear examples, and easy–to–implement solutions, this book is ideal for all plant console operators and process engineers.

Dedication to 2nd Edition

Dedication

Preface to 2nd Edition

Preface

Introduction to 2nd Edition

Introduction A History Of Positive Feedback Loops

About The Author

Chapter 1 Learning from Experience

Chapter 2 Process Control Parameter Measurement

Chapter 3 Dependent and Independent Variables

Chapter 4 Binary Distillation of Pure Components

Chapter 5 Distillation Tower Pressure Control

Chapter 6 Control of Aqueous Phase (Waste Water) Strippers

Chapter 7 Pressure Control in Multicomponent Systems

Chapter 8 Optimizing Fractionation Effi ciency by Temperature Profile

Chapter 9 Analyzer Process Control

Chapter 10 Fired Heater Combustion Air Control

Chapter 11 Using Existing Controls to Promote Energy Efficiency

Chapter 12 Sizing Process Control Valves

Chapter 13 Control Valve Position on Instrument Air Failure

Chapter 14 Override and Split–Range Process Control

Chapter 15 Vacuum System Pressure Control

Chapter 16 Reciprocating Compressors

Chapter 17 Centrifugal Compressor Surge vs. Motor Over–Amping

Chapter 18 Controlling Centrifugal Pumps

Chapter 19 Steam Turbine Control

Chapter 20 Steam and Condensate Control

Chapter 21 Control of Process Reactions

Chapter 22 Function of the Process Control Engineer

Chapter 23 Steam Quality and Moisture Content

Chapter 24 Level, Pressure, Flow, and Temperature Indication Methods

Chapter 25 Alarm and Trip Design for Safe Plant Operations

Chapter 26 Inverted Response of Process Parameters

Chapter 27 Nonlinear Process Responses

Chapter 28 Control Malfunction Stories

About My Seminars

Process Control Nomenclature Used In Petroleum Refineries & Petrochemical Plants

Further Readings on Troubleshooting Process

Controls

The Norm Lieberman Video Library Of

Troubleshooting Process Operations

Index

Afterword

Norman Lieberman a practicing Chemical Engineer with 52 years of design, operation, and troubleshooting experience. His clients are refineries and petrochemical plants. He is well known in the process industry for instructing technical process seminars, primarily for refineries and petrochemical plants.