Title: Synthesis of One-Touch-and-Go auto-tuner for practical process controllers

Authors: Rohitha S. Senadheera, Jeff K. Pieper

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada

Abstract: This paper derives solutions to some practical problems that normally arise in the development and synthesis of an intelligent One-Touch-and-Go feedback controller design tool that automates the design procedure of Proportional Integral and Derivative (PID) and Lead/Lag controllers in process control plants. Some advantages are: detailed knowledge of plants not required to design controllers; expertise and special training required is minimised; frequent controller retuning when operating conditions of plants change made easy, efficient and cost effective. Entering control performance requirements via a graphical user interface and activation of the system by pressing a button, identifies the plant, tunes controllers and handles control tasks automatically. Performance of the derived solutions is evaluated based on results obtained by implementing them in an experimental First Order Plus Dead Time (FOPDT) and Second Order Plus Dead Time (SOPDT) liquid level control plants.

Keywords: supervised learning; unsupervised learning; process control; computer-aided design; CAD; intelligent systems; relay feedback auto-tuning; automatic detection; phase margins; gain margins; proportional integral and derivative controllers; PID controllers; lead/lag controllers; lead compensators; lag compensators; feedback control; intelligent control design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2006.008797

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2006 Vol.8 No.1/2/3, pp.226 - 247

Published online: 25 Jan 2006 *

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