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International Society of Automation News Release
Contact: Jennifer Infantino
+1 919-990-9287
jenniferinfantino@isa.org

ISA Releases Third Edition of McMillan’s Popular Tuning Pocket Guide

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA (14 June 2012) – The International Society of Automation (ISA) announces that it has published a new edition of its popular technical book, Good Tuning, A Pocket Guide, Third Edition, by Gregory K. McMillan.

Every practicing instrument, process and process control engineer will want to have this practical and to-the-point pocket guide on good tuning. Good Tuning: A Pocket Guide, Third Edition is a portable, concise summary of all the practical considerations for tuning loops. It includes step-by-step descriptions of the three best field-proven tuning procedures, a table of typical tuning settings, a summary of valve performance problems, logic diagrams for troubleshooting and more than 70 “rules of thumb.” Wherever you have data and tuning access, you can estimate the settings for configuring new loops to review and improve the tuning of existing loops.

The Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller has an incredible number of options and parameters besides tuning settings. Most of the power of the PID remains untapped. This third edition provides process dynamic responses, a PID checklist and simple equations to estimate loop performance from tuning settings to take advantage of the full capability of the PID. The understanding of the interrelationship between the process, tuning, performance and PID features enables automation and process engineers to work together to improve process efficiency and capacity.

Also featured are methods for reducing valve backlash and sticktion and for preventing excessive sensor lag and noise. Finally, this edition includes adaptive controls and the application recommendations and considerations for batch control, boilers, crystallizers, columns, dryers, evaporators, extruders, neutralizers, reactors and many other types of process equipment.

McMillan is the author of numerous books on process control, his most recent being Essentials of Modern Measurements and Final Elements for the Process Industryand Advanced Temperature Measurement and Control, Second Edition.

For more information or to purchase a copy of Good Tuning: A Pocket Guide, Third Edition by Gregory K. McMillan, click here.

About ISA

Founded in 1945, the International Society of Automation (www.isa.org) is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ISA develops standards, certifies industry professionals, provides education and training, publishes books and technical articles, and hosts conferences and exhibitions for automation professionals. ISA is the founding sponsor of the Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org).