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Author Profile
Gregory K. McMillan
271 Results Found
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Feature
How to Achieve Best Disturbance Rejection and Setpoint in Industrial Processes
Use disturbance rejection tuning, external-reset feedback, and a setpoint filter in your PID controller to achieve loop performance objectives. -
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How to Eliminate Split Range Oscillations in Process Control
Use precise valves, scheduled tuning, external-reset feedback, directional rate setpoint limits, and an enhanced PID to stop split range oscillations. -
FeatureThe Value of Process in Designing or Improving an Industrial Control System
Designing and/or improving a control system is practically impossible if the team does not understand the process. -
FeatureWhy You Should Not Use On-Off Valves as Control Valves
On-off valves should not be used as control valves (for throttling) and control valves should not be used as on-off valves (for isolation). -
FeatureWhy Operators Can Make or Break an Automation Project
Operator buy-in and approval are critical to automation project success. Get the operators involved in the design process early and listen to what they say. -
FeatureWhy You Should Look for Opportunities to Improve Plant Profitability
Estimate benefits from a decrease in variability & an increase production rate. Implement solutions where an increase in plant profitability is justified -
FeaturePitfalls of Selecting Low-Cost Industrial Instrumentation
Buying high-quality instrumentation does not mean that the buyer has to pay list price. -
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Why You Should Use an Enhanced PID for At-Line and Off-Line Analyzers
An enhanced PID can simplify the tuning and improve the stability for loops with large and/or variable analyzer update times. -
FeatureThe Cost of a Continuous Waste Stream in Process Automation
Any continuous waste stream is an excellent candidate for a money saving opportunity. Always keep an eye out for them. -
FeatureAutomation Industry Career Tip: Be a Team Player
For a successful automation industry career, work together on a one-on-one basis, and seek inspiration and recognition as a team. -
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ISA Mentor Program: The Key to the Future
The ISA Mentor Program is an ad hoc and extra curricula activity worth sacrificing free time to advance the careers of young automation professionals. -
FeatureAutomation Industry Career Tip: Learn New Skills and Explore Technological Advances
An emerging opportunity is learning how to mine information from an asset management system and an instrument management system. -
FeatureWhy Control Panels Can Be a Source of Risk in Retrofit Projects
Project management is really just risk management, and a large source of risk to an automation project is the control panels. -
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How to Use Control Loops to Eliminate Manual Actions and Sequences in Process Control
Use a PID control to eliminate manual actions and scheduled actions whenever a reasonable PV measurement is available. -
FeatureThe Importance of I/O Cards When Performing a DCS Retrofit
The electrical analysis of the systems should not be assigned to a junior engineer. -
FeatureThe Importance of Minimizing Dead Time in Process Automation
Minimize the largest sources of dead time in process control applications and consider the use of an enhanced PID developed for wireless and feedforward control for large dead times. -
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How to Determine the Reliability of an Actuator
Several different on/off actuator designs are available today. Some employ a scotch yoke mechanism, others use a rack and pinion, Plant experience suggests that the diminutive piston o-ring design can -
FeatureAutomation Industry Career Advice: Seek Conversations with Knowledgeable People
Start a conversation with everyone responsible for the successful implementation, maintenance, and operation of your designs. -
News
ISA Author Spotlight: Greg McMillan Career Is an Open Book
Winner of ISA’s prestigious Life Achievement Award & many times awarded for achievements during his career, Greg McMillan is ISA’s most prolific author. -
FeatureThe Benefits of Lifelong Learning for an Industrial Automation Career
The more knowledge an industrial engineer masters, the more valuable he or she becomes. -
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How to Get the Most out of Your PID Controller
Technical paper shows you how to get the most out of your PID controller, extending its functionality from basic to advanced control. -
FeatureHow to Improve Batch Reactor Temperature Control
Temperature is a critical condition for chemical reactions to take place. In batch process, control becomes more complicated because of the variability of level, pressure and concentrations. -
FeatureWhat Is the Best Approach in Developing a Dynamic Process Model?
The primary objective of a dynamic model of a continuous process for process control is for the open loop gain, open loop time constant, and total loop deadtime be correct for the effect of each proce -
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What Are the Pro and Cons of Different Types of Dynamic Process Simulators?
The best way to classify process simulators is to look at the original intent of the simulator software when first released, who are the software developers, who configures the models, and how are the -
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How to Check out DCS I/O at the Panel Shop
An I/O checkout on a DCS system is rather difficult because there is no means to “force” the I/O as you can most PLCs -
FeatureWhat Are the Factors that Affect VFD Rangeability?
What are the factors that affect VFD rangeability? -
FeatureHow to Create a P&ID
P&IDs should generally follow ISA symbols for the basic instruments. If you follow that symbology, most anyone can read and understand the P&IDs quickly. -
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What Are the Important Criteria for Selecting a System Integrator for an Industrial Project?
Choosing an integrator for an industrial automation project is like choosing an architect for the house of your dreams – you can get almost any architect to build a dwelling structure, but the house o -
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How to Select a System Integrator for an Industrial Automation Project
Look for an industrial systems integrator that can add value…not one that just does what you tell them. A good integrator will ask lots of questions so they fully understand your process. -
FeatureAnnubar or Orifice Flowmeter: What Is the Best Application for an Oil Storage Tank?
The permanent pressure loss is less for an annubar than an orifice flowmeter. -
FeatureWhat Is the Proper Back Pressure Control Valve Type?
To minimize interaction between a back pressure loop and a flow loop in series, the pressure drop should be much greater across the flow control valve. -
FeatureWhat Are Best Practices for Sizing a Pump Recycle Valve?
Recycle valves are used to maintain limited flow through a pump to avoid cavitation under dead-head or low flow conditions. -
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How Do You Handle Manual Operations in Industrial Process Control?
With a requirement for manual action, slow down transitions in manual operations by use of velocity limits on the setpoints of PID and analog output blocks. -
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How Do You Determine a Measurement Is Good Enough for Control?
Often measurement errors are expressed as a percent of full scale and are therefore larger in terms of percent of operating setpoint. -
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Are changes in pipeline pressure affecting your loop?
Are changes in pipeline pressure affecting your loop? -
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What are the best packed column temperature(s) for control?
What are the best packed column temperature(s) for control? -
FeatureWhat Is the Effect of the Pump on Control Valves at Lower Rates?
What is the effect of the pump on control valves at lower rates? -
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Tutorial Download: How to Optimize Industrial Distillation and Reactor Performance
Excellent temperature control is the key to both distillation and reactor performance. -
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What Is an Automation Migration Project Best Path Forward?
Process control migration best path forward: How do you achieve both when schedule and cost are constraints or better yet roadblocks? -
FeatureWhat Is the Best Way to Document a Control System?
It is possible to create a documentation format that works for design and construction and then can be gradually “morphed” into a format that meets the needs of production -
FeatureHow to Tune a Temperature Control Loop When Auto-Tuning Takes Too Long
Test time for tuning temperature control can be reduced by using the near-integrating method. It identifies the deadtime and initial ramp rate. -
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How Do You Know When Feedforward Is Needed?
If on a trend recording a change in an input flow or speed (load) associated with a primary process loop causes a significant change in the primary process variable, there is an opportunity for feedfo -
FeatureHow to Select the Best Industrial Controller: MPC, Fuzzy Logic, or PID?
Linear programs and real-time optimization need the prediction to violation of constraints inherent in MPC. -
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Eliminate Deadtime with Mentoring and Social Media
You cannot avoid the need to spend time in the field. Knowledge can be accelerated by communicating with the "best," directly and through ISA publications