Deriving "τp = 63.

2% of Process Step Response" Rule

By Doug Cooper
Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering
University of Connecticut, Unit 3222
Storrs, CT 06269-3222
Email: cooper@engr.uconn.edu
Academic: http://www.engr.uconn.edu/control
Editor: http://www.controlguru.com

To derive the “time constant, τP = 63.2% of Process Step Response” rule used in model fitting, we must
solve a linear first order ordinary differential equation (ODE):
y(
= y(t)Variable,

AKP
PVProcess

AKP
0.632 AKP
u(t)

0
= u(t) Output,

A
CO Controller

A
0

0
ττPP Time,
Time, (t)(t)

Figure 1 – Response of true first order process to a step change in controller output

The figure above shows the open loop step response of a true first order process model:

dy (t )
τP + y (t ) = K P u (t ) where y(0) = 0
dt

As shown in Fig 1, the measured process variable, y(t), and controller output signal, u(t), are initially at
steady state with y(t) = u(t) = 0 for t < 0. Other parameters include the process time constant, τP, and
process gain, KP.

At time t = 0, the controller output is stepped to u(t) = A, where it remains for the duration of the
experiment. Hence, the first order model becomes

dy (t )
τP + y (t ) = AK P
dt

Copyright © 2006 by Douglas J. Cooper

All rights reserved
To solve this ODE, rearrange as:
dy (t ) 1 AK P
+ y (t ) =
dt τP τP

First compute the integrating factor, µ = e ∫

(1/ τ p ) dt t /τ
= e p . Solving the ODE using this integrating
factor yields
1 ⎡ t / τ P ⎛ AK P ⎞ ⎤
y (t ) = ⎢∫ e
t /τ P ⎜ ⎟ dt + c1 ⎥
e ⎣ ⎝ τP ⎠ ⎦

⎡ AK P t / τ P ⎤
= e −t / τ P ⎢
⎣ τP
∫ e d t + c1 ⎥
⎦

1 ax
∫e
ax
Recall that dx = e
a

∫e
t /τ P
and thus dt = τ P e t / τ P

so y (t ) = e −t / τ P ⎡⎣ AK P et / τ P + c1 ⎤⎦

= AK P + c1e − t / τ P

Next, apply the initial condition: @ t = 0, y = 0, 0 = AKP + c1, and thus c1 = −AKP.

Substituting and rearranging, we obtain the solution to the ODE:

y(t ) = AK P ⎡⎣1 − e−t/τ P ⎤⎦

After the passage of one time constant, time t = τP, the solution becomes

y (τ P ) = AK P ⎡1 − e −τ P / τ P ⎤ = AK P ⎡⎣ 1 − e −1 ⎤⎦
⎣ ⎦

Therefore, the measured process variable step response at time t = τP is

y (τ P ) = 0.632 AK P

As we set out to show, at time t equals one time constant,τP, the measured process variable, y(t), will
have traveled to 63.2% of the total change that it will ultimately experience.

Copyright © 2006 by Douglas J. Cooper

All rights reserved