Control loop response to setpoint change in the

case of P-action control

The P controller
The P controller constitutes the simplest of all continuous controller types. It is
made up out of the PID controller by omitting, that is disabling, the I and D
elements and thus operates in line with the general P-action element. The
following relationship holds true for the relationship between the error signal e(t)
(input variable of the controller) and the manipulated variable y(t) (output variable
of the controller)

The following Figure shows the step response and the block symbol for the P
controller.

The parameter KP is referred to as the proportional coefficient (controller gain) of

the P controller. In order to distinguish it from the proportional coefficient of the
common P-element, this parameter is frequently termed K PR or also simply KR.

The P controller is frequently used in simple control loops with only limited
demands. Its main disadvantage lies in the fact that in controlled systems with
compensation it leads to a residual error signal, i.e. the actual value never quite
achieves the setpoint or reference value.

Experiment: P control of the temperature controlled system

In the following experiment investigates the response to a setpoint change of the
temperature control loop with P controller for various values of the parameter K P.

Set up the experiment circuit below setting the potentiometer P1 - if not

already set - so that the output variable of the controlled system amounts to
 0V for the prevailing ambient temperature. Configure the PID controller card
as a P controller.

Activate the time trace plotter and configure it as shown in the following Table.

Scaling of axes
x-axis Minimum: 0 Maximum: 300 Scale div.: 60 Marks: 1
y-axis Minimum: 0 Maximum: 120 Scale div.: 10 Marks: 1
Input settings
Channel A Meas. range: 10 V Coupling: DC Range: 100 Offset: 0
Channel B Meas. range: 10 V Coupling: DC Range: 100 Offset: 0
Options settings
Number of measurements: 300
Continuous measurement: no
Reference variable function: yes
Disturbance variable output: no

Activate the reference variable generator and set a constant setpoint reference
variable of 50%. Then determine the step response (plot of the controlled and
manipulated variables) first for KP = 1 and copy the plot obtained into the
space below.

Step response for KP = 1

Now repeat the experiment for KP = 5 and KP = 10 and copy the plots obtained
into the spaces below. (Note: If necessary wait until the temperature controlled
system has cooled down.)

Step response for KP = 5

Step response KP = 10

Compare the results obtained in terms of speed, tendency to oscillate,

remaining error signal and manipulated variable requirement of the controller.
What kind of characteristics do you expect if you continue to increase K P?
Enter your explanations in the answer box below.

Now based on the Chien, Hrones and Reswick optimisation procedures and
on the system's time characteristic as determined earlier for the P controller,
find a setting for good system response to setpoint change with overshoot. In
the process assume a system gain of KS = 0.5. Enter the KP value determined
in the following answer box.

KP =

Now determine the step response again (with the settings used above) for the
determined value for KP and copy the plot obtained into the space below.
 Step response with a P controller based on Chien, Hrones and Reswick

How do you assess the control loop response with the optimised P controller?
Enter your conclusions in the text box below.