Evaluation of advanced industrial control projects: a framework for determining economic benefits

A framework for the evaluation of advanced control projects is illustrated in this paper by way of a case study on level control in mineral notation. The approach taken is to investigate how improvements brought about by adva nced control can be measured to a required level of statistical significanc e, after the controller has been commissioned. Measured improvements are tr anslated into increases in cash flow that result from implementing an advan ced controller, which is then used for project evaluation. As an introducti on to the case study, a framework for establishing advanced controllers for industrial processes, which culminates in determining economic benefits, i s discussed. Ways of obtaining controller benefits through the reduction of downtime and product variations, are also described. The risk of implement ing an advanced control project is discussed together viith typical scenari os under which such projects are often undertaken. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.