Unified design method of time delayed PI controller for first order plus dead-time process models with different dead-time to time constant ratio

Abstract

The time delay element present in the PI controller brings dead-time compensation capability and shows improved performance for dead-time processes. However, design of robust time delayed PI controller needs much responsiveness for uncertainty in dead-time processes. Hence in this paper, robustness of time delayed PI controller has been analyzed for First Order plus Dead-Time (FOPDT) process model. The process having dead-time greater than three times of time constant is very sensitive to dead-time variation. A first order filter is introduced to ensure robustness. Furthermore, integral time constant of time delayed PI controller is modified to attain better regulatory performance for the lag-dominant processes. The FOPDT process models are classified into dead-time/lag dominated on the basis of dead-time to time constant ratio. A uni-fied tuning method is developed for processes with a number of dead-time to time constant ratio. Several simulation examples and experimental evaluation are exhibited to show the efficiency of the proposed unified tuning technique. The applicability to the process models other than FOPDT such as high-order, integrating, right half plane zero systems are also demonstrated via simulation examples.