The article discusses the nature and challenges of controlling non-self-regulating (or integrating) processes in general, and liquid level control loops in particular. The article includes details for analyzing integrating process behavior along with a step-by-step recipe for controller tuning. Several examples of industrial interest are highlighted, including filler level control in a brewery and reflux drum level control in a distillation column.

Osprey Engineering is an independent solution provider, offering a variety of world-class engineering products and services to companies in Malaysia and throughout Southeast Asia. Osprey is a recognized expert in process control, data acquisition, detailed engineering and design, and electrical and instrumentation. The company’s services include consultation, project management and execution, system design, construction and commissioning support.

The Chemical Processing Magazine award citation (please visit magazine page 22 for complete details) notes that the "LOOP-PRO Product Suite provides a simplified way to apply PID diagnostics and tuning best-practices. It enables operators to conduct thorough analyses of underperforming PID loops, compare potential changes to tuning parameters, and quickly and consistently optimize loops based on predicted PID controller performance and the associated process stability, all while validating each step in the tuning procedure."

The award citation notes that LOOP-PRO "provides tuning options from an array of configurations, including P-Only, PI, PID, and PID with filter. Based on industry-proven methods, all tuning configurations can be quickly and easily customized to achieve the user’s specific control objective. Users gain valuable insight by visually evaluating controller performance and process stability prior to implementing final tuning parameters at their PLC or DCS. The Visual Performance Designer eliminates the need for costly and time intensive trial-and-error tuning of controllers."