Unit 4016 Instrumentation and Control Systems (T/651/0733) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 4016 Instrumentation and Control Systems Assignment Brief

Introduction

Instrumentation and control can also be described as measurement automation, which is a very important area of engineering. It is responsible for the safe control of a wide range of processes from power stations to manufacturing facilities and even the cruise control in cars.

This unit introduces students to the important principles, components, and practices of instrumentation in controlling of a system, together with the terminology, techniques and components that are used in such a system.

Among the topics included in this unit are: instrumentation systems, instrumentation signal terminology, signal conversion and conditioning, process control systems, process controller terminology, system terminology and concepts, system tuning techniques and application of predicted values to a control system.

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to learn about the measurement of system parameters to a successful process control performance, when and how such measurements are carried out, and developing skills in applying predicted values in order to ensure stability within a control system for a range of input wave forms.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will be able to:

LO1 Describe operation of instrumentation devices including parameters used in process control

LO2 Investigate process control systems and controllers

LO3 Analyse the control concepts used within an industrial process

LO4 Apply predicted values to ensure stability within a control system.

Essential Content

LO1 Describe operation of instrumentation devices including parameters used in process control

Instrumentation systems:

• Sensors and transducers used in instrumentation including resistive, inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, pressure, semiconductor, thermocouple and optical
• Investigate key design aspects of instrumentation systems using latest industry case studies.

Instrumentation signal terminology:

• The importance of instrumentation signal terminology, error, drift, repeatability, including the difference between accuracy and precision, reliability, linearity, sensitivity, resolution, range, and hysteresis.

Signal conversion and conditioning:

• Conversion and conditioning of signals, including analogue, digital, optical, microprocessor, wireless and industry standard signal ranges.

LO2 Investigate process control systems and controllers

Process control systems:

• The need for process control systems, including quality, safety, consistency, optimisation, efficiency, cost and environmental considerations
• Investigate key design aspects of instrumentation systems using latest industry case studies.

Process controller terminology:

• Defining set point, process value, output, error, gain, deviation, range, on-off control, two step control and three term control PID (proportional, integral and derivative).

LO3 Analyse the control concepts used within an industrial process

System terminology and concepts:

• System terminology and concepts: Recognise system terminology and concepts, including distance velocity lags, capacity, resistance, static and dynamic gain, feedback types, open and closed loop, feed forward control and stability (underdamped, overdamped and critically damped system).

System tuning techniques:

• Familiarise with system tuning techniques, including Zeigler-Nichols, continuous cycling, reaction curves, decay methods and overshoot tuning.

LO4 Apply predicted values to ensure stability within a control system

Predicted values:

• Investigate block diagram representation of a simplified feedback system (plant and controller) and a closed-loop control system (reference input, controller, plant, feedback, error).
• Investigate transfer function representation for a first and second order closed-loop system.
• Apply predicted values to a given open and closed loop control system using simulation, to investigate system response to a range of input signal types, evaluate stability of the system using its key parameters (settling time, rise time, peak time, peak value, overshoot, steady state error) and propose possible improvements.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria