Stability of balancing competing demands: A network flow analysis with process control
Open Access
- Author:
- Dompier, Jared
- Area of Honors:
- Chemical Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Darrell Velegol, Thesis Supervisor
Darrell Velegol, Thesis Honors Advisor
Themis Matsoukas, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Competing demand
Process Control
Network Flow
Fluid Flow - Abstract:
- The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the dilemma of competing demands through the perspective of process control. The allocation of competing demands is modeled across three fluid flow systems of varying sizes and degrees of control. The control gain (Kc) represents the intensity and valence of demand for resource. A higher Kc correlates to a more urgent demand. The integral time (τi) represents the time between demands. A low τi correlates to a quick and high frequency demand. Relationships between these control parameters were applied to the concept of competing demands. Here the thesis discovered that beyond maintaining correlated values within a given systems stability threshold, values must respect a given systems maximum or minimum tolerance of process variable, or resource, quantity. For control to be properly applied to a process of competing demands a combination of value of Kc and τi must be able to bring the process to a desired set point without hurting the process’s efficiency or security. Further, for process control itself to be effective it must respond and stabilize with a quickness required by the system. It was found that a system of more controls will allow for a greater range of stability parameters but increase the maximum flow value for those given parameters. Yet the thesis presents a set of rules and trends to follow when applying process control, maximization of success for applied process control must be system and scenario dependent.