Real-Time Implementation of Intelligent Controller Over Conventional Controller in a Nonlinear Process

Abstract

In several process-related industries, the primary objective of a control mechanism is to overcome the disturbances and enable smooth operation of the whole process. This paper considers a nonlinear conical tank system prototype, and the PID controller is designed to function effectively. This prototype represents several process industries like Pharmaceutical Industries, Paper Industries, and Petrochemical Industries that use nonlinear processes such as conical tanks. The design of such tanks enables easy and effective discharge of the elements. In a conical tank, the level control is different from a conventional cylindrical tank. Hence control of the same becomes a challenging task. This project focuses on implementing a PID controller to maintain the prototype level. A Fuzzy Logic Controller is also implemented to make the process more effective and robust to external disturbances. A comparison of both controllers will be presented to understand the efficiency of this complex system. PID controllers are easy to implement as they use low resources. They are also easy to tune by simple trial and error method. Their cons include difficulty in handling multiple variables with strong interaction. The errors produced due to this problem can be minimized by applying logical algorithms. In this paper, a Fuzzy Logic algorithm is used for accurate results.