Condensed Handbook of
Measurement and Control,
3rd Edition (with CD-ROM)
N.E. Battikha

Selecting and implementing meas-
urement and control devices for
process automation applications
is made easier with this best-sell-
ing reference. This clear and con-
cise handbook provides quick access
to ISA symbology, instrument and control
valve selection criteria, and conversion
guidelines, with new sections on analyzers,
programmable electronic systems, alarm
and trip systems, control centers, enclo-
sures, and engineering documentation.

Measurement and Control

Basics, 4th Edition (with CD-ROM) Thomas A. Hughes Ideal for classroom use or self-study, this revised best-selling book has provided thousands of students, technicians, sales people, and others with a practical introduction to the technologies, systems, and strategies involved in industrial process control. The fourth edition takes the same proven intuitive approach of previous editions. Each chapter begins with basic definitions and mathematical concepts that allow readers to become well-versed in the principles necessary to understand the variables that affect process control systems. New features in the fourth edition include improved coverage of analytical measurement and control, and the addition of sections on the international standard for PLC languages; process visualization; and personal computer-based control systems. The book also includes solutions to exercises that make it more suitable for self-study. A bonus CD-ROM is also included!

Format: Softbound Book—2007 ISBN: 978-1-55617-995-2 Length: 441 pages; Weight: 2 lbs. Member: $79.00; List: $89.00 www.isa.org/ MandCHandbook

Format: Softbound Book—2007 ISBN: 978-1-55617-916-7 Length: 377 pages; Weight: 1 lb. Member: $95.00; List: $109.00 www.isa.org/mandcbasics

Improving control
A precision electric actuator is unaffected by valve stiction and can track closed-
loop controller demand almost perfectly, without dead time, lag, or overshoot.

Anatural response to the increasing economic, environmental, and competitive pressures facing industry is to improve process control performance, and many companies are investing in powerful, state-of-the-art control instrumentation as a result.

Unfortunately, these efforts often suffer from the performance of the final control element, or FCE (defined as the control valve/actuator or damper/actuator assembly).

The positioning performance of the FCE and its importance on process control is often misunderstood, underestimated, or simply ignored.

Updating control instrumentation and design is a wise, but costly, investment. Maximizing the return on the investment is possible, only if the proper actuator couples to a properly applied valve/damper.

Here are the actuation performance issues critical to control. We’ll look at why electric actuators designed for precise positioning and continuous modulation duty eliminate a major

source of performance limitations and control loop non-linearity.

Of course, this makes the return on a control system investment look good.

The performance issue

The key performance issue of an FCE is its ability to control consistently the process variable in response to the closed loop controller demand, without inducing dead time, lag, or gain variations over the expected control range.

The FCE gain is a function of the valve/damper itself (hereafter referred to as the valve only), while the time-based dynamics (dead time, lag) are largely a function of the actuator performance.

An ideal FCE includes a valve with a constant gain throughout the control range and an actuator that responds to the controller demand perfectly with no effect on the overall process dynamics.

ISA Handbook of Measurement Equations and Tables, 2nd Edition Jim Strothman This updated, expanded, and improved version provides hundreds of essential equations and tables to help you select, operate and maintain measurement devices. The second edition adds brand new chapters packed with tables and equations for industrial communications buses, safety, and environmental measurements.

Format: Softbound
Book—2006
ISBN: 978-1-55617-946-4
Length: 314 pages;
Weight: 1 lb.
Member: $89.00;
List: $99.00
www.isa.org/
measurehandbook

For full In Tech^® story, see www.isa.org/link/ImproveControl.