This course addresses the problem of control of dynamic processes. The main topics covered include:
- Analysis of dynamic chemical processes,
- Formulation of mechanistic models,
- Control strategies for regulating dynamic performance,
- Analysis of feedback and feedforward systems,
- Introduction to multivariate control,
- Instrumentations for the monitoring of industrial processes,
- Introduction to Piping Instrumentation Diagrams.

The concepts of risk, danger and chemical risk are defined. The relation between hazardous properties of the substances (toxicity, flammability, etc.) and the dangers arising from their use are examined.
The main types of industrial accidents (explosions, fires, toxic releases, runaway reactions) are discussed and the methodological and operational tools to assess the extent of the consequences are presented.

At the end of the course, students can:
- Represent dynamic processes by basic differential equations of energy and mass,
- Solve linear ordinary differential equations by Laplace transform,
- Represent dynamic processes by transfer functions in block diagrams,
- Calculate how dynamic systems respond to various disturbances,
- Study the stability of dynamic systems, with and without control,
- Design feedback control systems,
- Enhance feedback control with cascade and feedforward control strategies,
- Choose the appropriate sensors for the monitoring of the process,
- Draw and read simple Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams.
- Identification of risks and hazards associated with handling of chemicals at specific process conditions;
- Estimation of the consequences of an incident;
- Investigation of topics by reading technical and scientific publications

As prerequisites, students should be able to solve linear ordinary differential equations calculate integrals and derivatives of simple functions, and solve problems (with simple geometry) involving heat and mass transfer by a rigorous development of the basic differential equations of energy and mass.

Introduction to process control.
Process dynamics: review on macroscopic and shell heat/mass balances, Laplace transform, analysis of the dynamic behavior of low and high order systems, frequency analysis, calculation of stability limits.
Process control: design and analysis of feedback control systems, enhance of the performance of feedback control systems (cascade and feedforward strategies), introduction to multivariate control.
Process instrumentations: sensors for the monitoring of temperature, flow rate, pressure, level of a liquid.
Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams for basic operations.

Industrial safety
Accidents and occupational diseases
The risks in the processing industry.
Toxicity
Fires prevention and protection.
Security issues in the management of chemical reactors

Weekly assignments in which the student can apply some of the concepts learned in lecture to real problems in chemical processing. The solutions of these assignments will be published on the website of the course. Furthermore, before the end of the course, the student have to deliver a short report about the results obtained during laboratory practices, which involve the design of a feedback controller for the regulation of the fluid temperature at the outlet of a tank and the numerical investigation of the dynamics of a given process using MatLab.

Ogunnaike, B. A., Ray, H. E. Process Dynamics, Modeling and Control. Oxford University Press, 1994.
Seborg, D.E., T.F. Edgar, D.A. Mellichamp and F.J. Doyle III, Process Dynamics and Control. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2010.

The student will receive a separate score for each of the two modules, "Control and Instrumentation for chemical processes" and "Safety for industrial processes".
As concerns the first module, Control and instrumentation for chemical processes, the score is the result of a 2-hour, closed-book, closed-notes examination. The test consists of three/four written assignments, which requires the application of concepts learned in lecture to real problems in chemical processing and, more specifically, select and design an appropriate control strategy for a given process.
At the end of the course, students have to deliver a short report about the lab practice, which include both experimental and numerical simulations. Before the exam session, the result of this report will be published and might state "Pass" or "Fail". In the case of "Pass", the score of the written exam will be increased of 1 point, otherwise there won’t be any correction.
If the score of the written exam is 18/30 or higher, the student can register it or ask for a further evaluation. In this last case, the student has to do a 20-minute interview which includes two questions about the application of concepts learned in lecture and one question about the Instrumentation for the monitoring of chemical processes. The written exam and the interview scores are averaged (70% for written exam and 30% for the interview) to give the overall result for the exam.
As concerns the second part of the course, Industrial safety, the score is the result of a 2-hour, closed-book, closed-notes examination and an interview. The written exam includes practices about the numerical applications of concepts learned in lecture, while the interview is more focused on the theoretical concepts.
So as to pass the exam, the student has to obtain 18/30 or higher for each of the two modules. The two scores are then averaged (60% for Control and Instrumentation and 40% for Industrial Safety) so as to give the final evaluation of the exam.