Browsing by Author "Brebnor, Dave"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Development of an Autotuner for Plants with Stochastic Disturbances
    (2017-12-20) Brebnor, Dave; Foley, Michael; Clarke, Matthew; Svrcek, William; Westwick, David; Kwok, Ezra
    The most universally exercised model which amply describes the transient behaviour of a wide range of chemical processes is the first-order-plus-deadtime model. An identification experiment must be conducted to generate the data required to fit an accurate first-order-plus deadtime model. Relay feedback procedures have superseded the conventional step response identification tests for the purpose of tuning proportional-integral-derivative controllers. However, these techniques are known to perform poorly in the presence of process disturbances. Developing an autotuner that performs well in the presence of stationary stochastic disturbances is the chief objective of this dissertation. This is accomplished by the inclusion of two separate first-order filters in the relay feedback loop. A few guidelines are provided for the selection of the filter time constants. After the identification procedure yields the process parameters, a model-based tuning rule can be employed for controller tuning. Simulations of a continuous stirred tank heater and experiments conducted on a pilot-plant stirred tank heater illustrate the feasibility of the proposed autotuner.