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plc pid - 25.1

25. CONTINUOUS CONTROL

Topics:

Feedback control of continuous systems

Control of systems with logical actuators

PID control with continuous actuators

Analysis of PID controlled systems

PID control with a PLC

Design examples

Objectives:

To understand the concepts behind continuous control

Be able to control a system with logical actuators

Be able to analyze and control system with a PID controller

25.1INTRODUCTION

Continuous processes require continuous sensors and/or actuators. For example, an oven temperature can be measured with a thermocouple. Simple decision-based control schemes can use continuous sensor values to control logical outputs, such as a heating element. Linear control equations can be used to examine continuous sensor values and set outputs for continuous actuators, such as a variable position gas valve.

Two continuous control systems are shown in Figure 25.1. The water tank can be controlled valves. In a simple control scheme, one of the valves is set by the process, but we control the other to maximize some control object. If the water tank was actually a city water tank, the outlet valve would be the domestic and industrial water users. The inlet valve would be set to keep the tank level at maximum. If the level drops there will be a reduced water pressure at the outlet, and if the tank becomes too full it could overflow. The conveyor will move boxes between stations. Two common choices are to have it move continuously, or to move the boxes between positions, and then stop. When starting and stopping the boxes should be accelerated quickly, but not so quickly that they slip. And, the conveyor should stop at precise positions. In both of these systems, a good control system design will result in better performance.

plc pid - 25.2

valve

q1

a) Water Tank

valve

q2

 

 

h

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

motor

controller Vin

b) Motor Driven Conveyor

Figure 25.1 Continuous Systems

A mechanical control system is pictured in Figure 25.2 that could be used for the water tank in Figure 25.1. This controller will adjust the valve position, therefore controlling the flow rate into the tank. The height of the fluid in the tank will change the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the tank. A pressure line is connected to a pressure cell. As the pressure inside the cell changes, the cell will expand and contract, opening and closing the valve. As the tank fills the pressure becomes higher, the cell expands, and the valve closes, reducing the flow in. The desired height of the tank can be adjusted by sliding the pressure cell up/down a distance x. In this example the height x is called the setpoint. The control variable is the position of the valve, and, the feedback variable is the water pressure from the tank. The controller is the pressure cell.

plc pid - 25.3

q1

Main water supply

q2

x

1. Feedback of hydrostatic pressure through a rubber tube.

2. This input slider adjusts the position of the bellows (can

be adjusted with a screwdriver).

3. Bellows expand/contract as pressure increases/decreases,

and move the rod that closes/opens the valve

4. The valve changes the flow into the tank, thus changing the water height.

For control add,

feedback1. Some means of measuring the water height (system state) setpoint 2. Some input for desired control height

system error 3. Some error compensation

4. An actuator to change the system input

Figure 25.2 A Feedback Controller

Continuous control systems typically need a target value, this is called a setpoint. The controller should be designed with some objective in mind. Typical objectives are listed below.

fastest response - reach the setpoint as fast as possible (e.g., hard drive speed) smooth response - reduce acceleration and jerks (e.g., elevators)

energy efficient - minimize energy usage (e.g., industrial oven)

noise immunity - ignores disturbances in the system (e.g., variable wind gusts)

An engineer can design a controller mathematically when performance and stability are important issues. A common industrial practice is to purchase a PID unit, connect it

plc pid - 25.4

to a process, and tune it through trial and error. This is suitable for simpler systems, but these systems are less efficient and prone to instability. In other words it is quick and easy, but these systems can go out-of-control.

25.2 CONTROL OF LOGICAL ACTUATOR SYSTEMS

Many continuous systems will be controlled with logical actuators. Common examples include building HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems. The system setpoint is entered on a thermostat. The controller will then attempt to keep the temperature within a few degrees as shown in Figure 25.3. If the temperature is below the bottom limit the heater is turned on. When it passes the upper limit it is turned off, and it will stay off until if passes the lower limit. If the gap between the upper and lower the boundaries is larger, the heater will turn on less often, but be on for longer, and the temperature will vary more. This technique is not exact, and time lags will often lead to overshoot above and below the temperature limits.

upper

room

 

overshoot

 

 

temp.

 

 

 

temp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

limit

 

 

 

 

 

set temp.

 

 

 

 

 

(nominal)

 

 

 

 

 

lower

 

 

 

 

 

temp.

 

 

 

 

 

limit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

time

heater on

heater off

heater on

heater off

heater on

Note: This system turns on/off continuously. This behavior is known hunting. If the limits are set too close to the nominal value, the system will hunt at a faster rate. Therefore, to prevent wear and improve efficiency we normally try to set the limits as far away from nominal as possible.

Figure 25.3 Continuous Control with a Logical Actuator

Figure 25.4 shows a controller that will keep the temperature between 72 and 74