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Feedback vs. Feedforward Control Systems

This document discusses feedback and feedforward control systems. Feedback control systems use measurements of the controlled output to determine corrective action, while feedforward systems use measurements of disturbances before errors occur. The document explains that feedback has advantages like versatility but can be slow, while feedforward is useful for processes with long delays but requires disturbance measurement. It provides an example of using both feedback and feedforward control for liquid level in a boiler drum. Ratio control is also discussed as a type of feedforward control used to maintain the ratio of process variables like flow rates.

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
199 views20 pages

Feedback vs. Feedforward Control Systems

This document discusses feedback and feedforward control systems. Feedback control systems use measurements of the controlled output to determine corrective action, while feedforward systems use measurements of disturbances before errors occur. The document explains that feedback has advantages like versatility but can be slow, while feedforward is useful for processes with long delays but requires disturbance measurement. It provides an example of using both feedback and feedforward control for liquid level in a boiler drum. Ratio control is also discussed as a type of feedforward control used to maintain the ratio of process variables like flow rates.

Uploaded by

sunilkumar5078
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Control Systems Overview
  • Control System Definition
  • Feedback and Feedforward Control
  • Stirred Tank Example
  • Ratio Control
  • Disturbance Rejection and Set Point Change

Control systems

FEEDBACK AND FEEDFORWARD CONTROL SYSTEMS

Control system definition

A control system is a device, or set of devices to manage, command, direct or regulate the behaviour of other device(s) or system(s)

There are two common classes of control systems, with many variations and combinations: logic or sequential controls, and feedback or linear controls. There is also fuzzy logic, which attempts to combine some of the design simplicity of logic with the utility of linear control.

Block diagrams

Feed back control

Advantages

Corrective action taken regardless of disturbance source


Minimal process information required for controller design PID control is very versatile and usually effective Corrective action not taken until after the output has deviated from the setpoint Requires measurement of the controlled output Does not allows measured disturbances to be utilized Problematic for processes with large time constants and/or long time delays

Disadvantages

Feedforward control

Major disturbance is measured and used as the controller input Advantage

Corrective action can be taken before the output has deviated from the setpoint Particularly useful for processes with large time constants and/or long time delays

Disadvantages

Disturbance must be measured


Provides no advantages for other disturbances Typically requires a process model

Stirred Tank example

Figure 15.2 The feedback control of the liquid level in a boiler drum.

Figure 15.3 The feedforward control of the liquid level in a boiler drum.

Description

A boiler drum with a conventional feedback control system is shown in Fig. 15.2. The level of the boiling liquid is measured and used to adjust the feedwater flow rate. This control system tends to be quite sensitive to rapid changes in the disturbance variable, steam flow rate, as a result of the small liquid capacity of the boiler drum. Rapid disturbance changes can occur as a result of steam demands made by downstream processing units.

Figure 15.4 The feedfoward-feedback control of the boiler drum level.

10

DESCRIPTION

In practical applications, feedforward control is normally used in combination with feedback control. Feedforward control is used to reduce the effects of measurable disturbances, while feedback trim compensates for inaccuracies in the process model, measurement error, and unmeasured disturbances.

Ratio Control

Ratio control is a special type of feedforward control that has had widespread application in the process industries. The objective is to maintain the ratio of two process variables as a specified value. The two variables are usually flow rates, a manipulated variable u, and a disturbance variable d.

u R d

(15-1)

Typical applications of ratio control include: [Link] the relative amounts of components in blending operations [Link] a stoichiometric ratio of reactants to a reactor [Link] a specified reflux ratio for a distillation column [Link] the fuel-air ratio to a furnace at the optimum value.
13

Figure 15.5 Ratio control, Method I.

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The main advantage of Method I is that the actual ratio R is calculated. A key disadvantage is that a divider element must be included in the loop, and this element makes the process gain vary in a nonlinear fashion. From Eq. 15-1, the process gain

1 R Kp u d d

(15-2)

is inversely related to the disturbance flow rate . Because of this significant disadvantage, the preferred scheme for implementing ratio control is Method II, which is shown in Fig. 15.6.

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Figure 15.6 Ratio control, Method II

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Regardless of how ratio control is implemented, the process variables must be scaled appropriately. For example, in Method II the gain setting for the ratio station Kd must take into account the spans of the two flow transmitters. Thus, the correct gain for the ratio station is
where Rd is the desired ratio, Su and Sd are the spans of the flow transmitters for the manipulated and disturbance streams, respectively.

Sd K R Rd Su

(15-3)
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Disturbance Rejection

0.6

0.2 0 Feedback Feedback-Feedforward

0.5

Feedback Feedback-Feedforward

-0.2 -0.4 -0.6

0.4

Output

0.3
Input

-0.8 -1 -1.2

0.2

0.1

-1.4 -1.6

0 -1.8 -0.1 0 2 4 6 8 10 Time 12 14 16 18 20 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 Time 12 14 16 18 20

SET POINT CHANGE

0.8 Output Setpoint 0.6


Output

0.4

0.2

0 0 2 4 6 8 10 Time 12 14 16 18 20

THANK YOU
TEJA TSSV

Common questions

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The combination of feedforward and feedback control in a boiler drum system enhances its effectiveness by addressing both measurable and unmeasurable disturbances. Feedforward control reduces the effects of measurable disturbances by making preemptive adjustments, while feedback control trims and compensates for inaccuracies in the process model and measurement errors, as well as unmeasured disturbances. This controlled approach aims to keep the liquid level stable despite fluctuations in steam demand .

Feedforward control is particularly beneficial for processes with large time constants and delay times because it allows for corrective actions to be implemented before any deviation occurs from the setpoint. By measuring and responding to disturbances preemptively, it can mitigate issues that would otherwise be exacerbated by the slow response time typical in such processes .

Method II is preferred over Method I for implementing ratio control systems because it avoids the nonlinearity problem associated with the divider element in Method I. Method II involves scaling the process variables appropriately, where the gain setting for the ratio station must account for the spans of the flow transmitters. This ensures a linear relationship that is easier to control, thus making the system more stable and predictable .

Feedback control systems primarily react to disturbances after they have affected the system, which can lead to slower response times and reduced disturbance rejection capability. In contrast, feedback-feedforward control systems enhance disturbance rejection by addressing them proactively through feedforward control, which counters measurable disturbances before they impact the output, and feedback adjustments for unmeasured disturbances or model inaccuracies. This combined approach offers a more robust and efficient disturbance rejection capability .

Unmeasured disturbances in control systems present significant challenges as they cannot be directly accounted for in control strategies like feedforward control. These disturbances often lead to inefficiencies and deviations from desired performance. To address them, feedback control systems are employed to compensate after deviations are detected, and combined control strategies like feedforward-feedback control are used to enhance robustness by accounting for modeling inaccuracies and providing correction for both measurable and unmeasurable disturbances .

Typical applications of ratio control in the process industries include setting relative amounts of components in blending operations, maintaining a stoichiometric ratio of reactants in a reactor, keeping a specified reflux ratio for a distillation column, and holding the fuel-air ratio to a furnace at the optimum value. Method I's main advantage is that it allows the calculation of the actual ratio R .

Measurement in feedback control systems is crucial as it provides the information needed to compare the actual output against the setpoint. Based on this comparison, corrective actions are taken to minimize the deviation. The accuracy and timeliness of these measurements heavily influence the system's ability to respond effectively to disturbances, thereby impacting overall performance .

Feedback control systems are advantageous because they automatically take corrective action regardless of the source of disturbance and require minimal process information for controller design. However, they only take corrective action after the output deviates from the setpoint and do not utilize measured disturbances effectively. This can be problematic for processes with large time constants and delays . Feedforward control systems, conversely, can take corrective action before any deviation from the setpoint by measuring and using major disturbances as inputs. They are beneficial for processes with large time constants and delays. However, they require measurable disturbances and do not offer advantages for other disturbances .

In Method I of ratio control, the inclusion of a divider element is disadvantageous because it causes the process gain to vary in a nonlinear manner, being inversely related to the disturbance flow rate. This nonlinearity complicates the control process, reducing its efficiency and effectiveness .

Scaling process variables is essential in Method II of ratio control to ensure the linearity and stability of the control loop. This involves setting the gain for the ratio station to reflect the spans of the flow transmitters for the manipulated and disturbance streams, ensuring precise and consistent response to changes. This careful scaling is accomplished by adjusting the gain setting Kd based on the desired ratio Rd and spans Su and Sd using the formula: Kd = (Rd * Sd) / Su .

Control 
systems 
FEEDBACK AND FEEDFORWARD CONTROL SYSTEMS
Control system definition 
A control system is a device, or set of devices to manage, command, 
direct or regulate the behav
Block 
diagrams
Feed back control 
Advantages 
Corrective action taken regardless of disturbance source 
Minimal process in
Feedforward control 
 
 
Major disturbance is measured and used as the controller input 
Advantage 
Correct
Stirred Tank example
7 
Figure 15.2 The feedback control of the liquid level in a boiler drum.
8 
Figure 15.3 The feedforward control of the liquid level in a boiler drum.
Description 
•
A boiler drum with a conventional feedback control system is 
shown in Fig. 15.2. The level of the boiling liq
10 
Figure 15.4 The feedfoward-feedback control of the boiler drum level.

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