Effect of disturbance in dynamic processes controlled by tuning techniques based on models

The importance of security for process control, product generation, utilities, etc., is undeniable. This study evaluates the ability of a PID controller (Proportional-Integral- Derivative) tuned with two different model-based techniques to reestablish its performance after suffering a disturbance. The experiments were performed in a process simulation plant, which consisted in temperature control by indirect heating, wherein the system was modelled and dynamically tuned by two different models: IMC (Internal Model Control) and Direct Synthesis. The integral-time criteria for evaluating the controller performance were the Integral of Absolute value of Error (IAE) and the Integral of Time multiplied by the value of Absolute Error (ITAE). The study concluded, with both criteria, that the effects of the disturbance were smaller for the controller tuned by the IMC model. The controller tuned by the other model had specific advantages.