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Control Systems & Instrumentation Flashcards

7 cards from real ISA CAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Control Systems & Instrumentation flashcards as text

  1. In ISA S88 batch control, what is the role of a 'unit procedure'?

    Answer: An ordered set of unit operations that makes one type of product

    A unit procedure is an ordered set of unit operations that directs a unit to make a batch of a specific product.

  2. What phenomenon occurs when integral action continues to accumulate during a period when the controller output is saturated?

    Answer: Integral windup

    Integral windup occurs when the integrator keeps accumulating error while the output is at its limit, causing sluggish response when the constraint is released.

  3. A differential pressure transmitter used for level measurement in a closed vessel requires:

    Answer: High-side connection at the bottom and low-side at the vapor space

    The high-side tap senses hydrostatic head plus vapor pressure, while the low-side tap cancels the vapor pressure, yielding a signal proportional only to liquid level.

  4. In FOUNDATION Fieldbus, what is the function of a 'function block'?

    Answer: A software algorithm inside a device that performs a specific control or I/O task

    Function blocks are standardized software algorithms (e.g., AI, PID, AO) that execute within fieldbus devices to implement control and I/O functions.

  5. Which of the following is the correct ISA symbology for a flow indicating controller on a P&ID?

    Answer: FIC

    FIC stands for Flow Indicating Controller, combining the measured variable (F), the indicating function (I), and the control function (C).

  6. What is the primary purpose of valve positioners in a control loop?

    Answer: To ensure the valve stem position accurately corresponds to the controller output signal

    Positioners use feedback from the valve stem to force the actual position to match the commanded position, overcoming friction, hysteresis, and pressure imbalance.

  7. For an underdamped second-order process, which response characteristic increases as the damping ratio decreases below 1?

    Answer: Overshoot increases and oscillation frequency increases

    As damping ratio decreases below 1, the system exhibits greater overshoot and higher-frequency oscillations in the transient response.

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  1. isa.org — Fees, registration deadline, test dates, score validity, retake fee, retake policy, score release, time limit · verified Oct 2026