OBJECTIVE 4:

Open loop: Time constant.*Based on data Lab 2 (choose only one controller; avoid using same
controller for other objectives). The controller being chosen is T11 LEVEL CONTROL. To calculate
time constant, Tc based on 3 methods:

1. Tangent method

2. Tangent-and-point method

3. 2-point method

THEORY
Time constant measures the time taken by a process to reach certain quantity when a
change in a manipulated variable is made. There are three distinct methods (Tangent,
Tangent and point, and 2-point-method) to calculate the time constant and may produce
the results un-agreeable to each other.

PROCEDURES

1. Calculate the response rate based on data given

∆Y
∆X a
RR=( ) ×( )
∆ MV b
2. Calculate the Td
Td ( time ) =Td length ×b

3. Calculate Tc (Tangent method)

Tc=T 100 %−Td

4. Calculate Tc based on 2-point method

Tc=1.5(T 63.2 %−T 28.3 %)

5. Calculate Tc based on (Tangent and point method)

Tc=T 63.2 %−Td
RESULTS

Calculate a value

100 %
a=( )
175 mm
0.5714 % /mm
Calculate b value

b= ( 9 :25−9 : 24
45 mm )

60 s
¿(
45 mm )
¿ 1.333 s /mm
Calculate differences in Manipulated variable

∆ MV =MVf − MVi
¿ 66 %−56 %=10 %
Calculate dead time

1.333 s
Td=3 mm ×
mm
Td=3.99 s
Calculate response rate

18 mm
RR= ( )
71 mm
10 %
×(0.5714 % /mm) /(1.333 s /mm)

RR=0.011s−1
Calculate time constant using three methods:

a) Tangent method

1.333 s
Tc= ( 74 mm−3 mm ) ×
mm
Tc=94.643 s
b) Tangent and point method

PV @ 63.2=0.632 ∆ Y
¿ 0.632 ×18 mm
¿ 11.376 mm
1.333 s
Tc= ( 48 mm−3 mm ) ×
mm
¿ 59.985 s

c) 2-Point-Method

PV @ 28.3=0.283 ∆Y
¿ 0.283 ×18 mm
¿ 5.094 mm
1.333 s
Tc=1.5 ( 48 mm−24 mm ) ×
mm
¿ 47.99 s
DISCUSSION

Graph above shows an open loop process response for a level control system (T11 Level control)
when the manipulated variable was change from 56% to 66%. The calculated response rate is
0.011s-1. Calculation of Td using the formula gave a value of Td=3.99s. There are several method to
find time constant, Tc. The first one is Definition by (Ziegler-Nichols): by applying Tangent method.
That is being defined as a period between the cross-section of old S.S. baseline and tangent line and
the cross-section of new S.S. baseline and tangent line. Calculation of Tc (Tangent method) gave
value of Tc=94.64s. Definition 2: Tangent and point. A period between the TPV@62.3% and the time
at cross-section of old S.S. baseline and tangent line. Calculated Tc based on (Tangent and point
method) gave a value Tc=59.99s. The last method is the 2-point method. Time constant is 1 .5 times
the difference between T (PV@63.2%) and T (PV@28.3%). Calculated Tc based on 2-point method
are 47.98s. The two-point method are the definition by Dr. Cecil Smith that does not depend on
tangent line.

CONCLUSION

From the resulting graph of T11 LEVEL CONTROL process, we can conclude that the dead time, time
constant, and response rate are calculated based on tangent method. The dead time and time
constant are based on the formula converting the length (Td length or Tc length) to the actual time.
There are three methods to calculate the time constant as stated. The methods are tangent, tangent
and point and 2-point method. All methods given different value of time constant due to different
parameter used to calculate it. The largest Time constant is from Tangent method and the least one
is based on 2-point method developed by DR. Cecil Smith.

RECOMMENDATION

The change of Manipulated variable shall adjust to a significant number value that may gave a more
stable result to the process variable and the calculated parameter. We should wait a little bit longer
to ensure the final steady state are stable before we print the graph to improve the accuracy of our
calculation. The graph should be trimmed more specifically on the process determined to avoid
confusion on the calculation. All calculation performed are based on the graph that being printed
and scan from the actual (origin printed graph) at the laboratory due to limited movement of group
members during (MCO) that we believe will cause small deviation from the actual value.