Setpoint weighted PID controller tuning for unstable system using heuristic algorithm

Abstract

Most of the real time chemical process loops are unstable in nature and designing a suitable controller for such systems are difficult than open loop stable processes. In this work, an attempt is made with a two degree of freedom setpoint weighted PID controller tuning procedure for a class of unstable systems using the recent heuristic algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization and Bacterial Foraging Optimization. The problem considered in this study is to aptly tune the controller in order to enhance the overall closed loop performance. A novel objective function proposed in this study is used to monitor the heuristic algorithms in order to get the optimal controller parameters like Kp, Ki, Kd, and ? with minimized iteration number. The proposed method is validated with a simulation study and this helps to accomplish enhanced system performance such as smooth reference tracking, satisfactory disturbance rejection, and error minimization for a class of unstable systems.