Control design of a coupled-tank apparatus

• Main Author: Vanuvamalai Harishankar
• Other Authors: Ling Keck Voon
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Control and instrumentation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/54738
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Modeling and designing a suitable controller for a process plays a crucial role in deciding the efficiency c;lnd safety of process in industries. In this dissertation, coupled tank apparatus is used to model a multivariable level process and the process model thus obtained is used to study the interaction analysis so as to design a controller for the process. The process model is identified by means of an open loop step test and FirstOrder- Plus-Time-Delay (FOPTD) model parameters are determined using various parameter identification methods. The 'Best fit' process parameter model obtained is used for interaction analysis using steady state relative gain array. The condition number for the multivariable coupled tank process was calculated to check for sensitivity issues. Depending on the interaction analysis, the multivariable coupled-tank was decoupled into 2 SISO loops (Single Input Single Output). Different controller designs based on the model of the process were implemented. The results obtained were investigated to select a suitable control design for coupled tank apparatus.