Human Approach to Process Control and the Role of Digital Technology

The application of digital technology to the process control industry is examined. The feasibility of the technology is demonstrated by presenting results from on-line trials in which the concepts of fault-tolerance and system reconfiguration were applied to the operation of the 5 MWt MIT Research Reactor. The effectiveness of digital technology as an aid to the human operator is then discussed in the context of the human approach to process control. Based on a study of licensed MIT Reactor operators, it was noted that the essential skill that humans must master if they are to exercise effective control is the ability to model and thereby predict the future state of the process in question. Accordingly, it is suggested that `faster than real-time´ plant models be employed as an operator aid. This approach might be of particular use during plant up-sets when human experience and therefore human predictive capability is likely to be limited.