Glossary · Automation fundamentals, platforms and components
Continuous process
Also known as: Continuous production
German: Kontinuierlicher Prozess
In process engineering, a continuous process is a production process in which materials flow in and products flow out without interruption over long periods, for example in refining, power generation or paper making.
- Automation components
- Process industry
In one sentence
A continuous process runs with uninterrupted material flow over long periods, as in refineries, power plants or paper machines.
Example
A distillation column runs continuously for months; feed rate, temperatures and pressures are held at their setpoints by control loops.
How it applies
- Engineering: Continuous processes are controlled mainly by closed control loops that keep variables at setpoints. Startup and shutdown are special, often critical phases.
- Operation: Plants are designed to run for long periods; unplanned stops are costly and may be hazardous.
- Documentation: Operating procedures focus on startup, shutdown, grade changes and abnormal situations, since steady operation is largely automatic.
- Commissioning: Startup of a continuous plant is planned step by step, with interlocks and hold points, because conditions change far from the normal operating point.
Continuous vs. batch vs. discrete
A Batch process produces finite quantities by following a recipe in steps, as modeled in ISA-88. Discrete manufacturing produces countable items such as cars or devices. Many plants mix types, for example continuous upstream processing with batch finishing.