Comparison of the performance of PID controller on level process using programmable logic controller and embedded systems

Abstract

Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers are widely used in industrial control systems and control theory academia, mainly due to their functional simplicity and robust performance. This paper presents the performance comparison of a PID controller, implemented with two different technologies, (i) a SIEMENS SIMATIC S7-1200 programmable logic controller and (ii) an embedded system based on RASPBERRY PI. The parameters were set with the same conditions for both technologies. The control was performed on a level system on the platform located in the process control room and computerized systems at the Electricity and Industrial Automation Center (CEAI), SENA in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The results obtained indicate that, for both technologies under the same conditions, the controllers have the same performance in terms of settling time, rise time, delay time, peak time (time where the maximum overshoot occurs), and steady-state error. Makeover, they differ in the control effort where the PLC performs 2.10% less control effort than the embedded system and a signal overshoot of 2.05% compared to 4.32% of the embedded system. These results show that controller implementation with an embedded system is an excellent low-cost alternative for industrial processes with similar results as a controller implemented in a PLC.