Control Loops & PID Basics
How a feedback control loop holds a process at setpoint: the measure-compare-compute-actuate cycle, what proportional, integral and derivative action each contribute, the symptoms of poor tuning, cascade and feedforward strategies, and how to monitor loop performance. For operators, instrument technicians and engineers in process plants.
54m
Total time
4
Competency levels
12
Lessons
What you'll learn
- Describe the elements of a feedback control loop and the order in which they act
- Explain in plain language what proportional, integral and derivative action each contribute
- Recognise the symptoms of poor tuning, including sluggish response, oscillation, hunting and sustained offset
- Explain how loops interact and why cascade and feedforward strategies are used
- Decide when a loop should be switched to manual and how to do so safely
- Apply basic loop performance monitoring to identify and prioritise the worst-performing loops
Curriculum
Progress through each competency level in order.
1
Awareness
- 3mWhat a Control Loop IsKnowledge
- 2mReading a Controller FaceplateKnowledge
- 7mAwareness Check: Loops, Modes and TrendsAssessment
2
Knowledge
- 3mP, I and D in Plain LanguageKnowledge
- 3mSymptoms of Poor TuningKnowledge
- 8mKnowledge Check: PID Actions and Tuning SymptomsAssessment
3
Skill
- 3mLoop Interactions, Cascade and FeedforwardKnowledge
- 3mLoop Health Assessment and Step TestAssignment
- 8mSkill Check: Interaction, Cascade and FeedforwardAssessment
4
Mastery
- 3mManual Operation and Loop Performance MonitoringKnowledge
- 3mLead a Loop Performance ReviewAssignment
- 8mMastery Assessment: Loop Judgement and PerformanceAssessment
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