Parallel processing computer architectures for process control

Modern, large-scale, high-speed process control automation is quite complex in nature. Continuous manufacturing processes currently in use require advanced computer technologies such as simultaneous parallel processing architecture for synchronous process operations that take place independent of each other. In order to optimise the performance of a process control system measured through its output variance, suitably structured robust computing structures are necessary for a multi-input/output process control. This paper describes: (1) a multi-ported-memory, star-ring parallel processing computer architecture for the process control of multiple inputs/outputs; and (2) a suitable parallel processing architecture for optimising the performance of an interconnected process control system. Both the architectures use a feedback control algorithm for multi-input/output process control by measuring its performance through its output product quality and for optimising the performance of the inter-connected process control system by using the product quality output as a performance measure.