The paper presents a control design approach for nonlinear distributed process systems. The approach is developed on the framework of a thermodynamic formalism that exploits convexity of the energy-like functions and dissipation to derive passivity conditions for process systems. In our case, however, the convex function candidate is part of the controller design problem and will be selected as that which reduces or minimizes non-dissipative effects. On this framework, control implementation issues such as finite number of inputs, outputs and input saturation, will be discussed. In this regard, criteria for appropriate sensor and actuator placement and stability preservation under constrained inputs are given