CONTROL ENGINEERING

Module -1

Introduction: Components of a control system, Open loop and closed loop systems. Types
of controllers: Proportional, Integral, Differential, Proportional-Integral, and Proportional-
Integral-Differential controllers. Modelling of Physical Systems: Mathematical Models of
Mechanical, Electrical, Thermal, Hydraulic Systems.

1.1. Introduction: A system is an arrangement of or a combination of different physical

components connected or related in such a manner so as to form an entire unit to attain a certain
objective. Control system is an arrangement of different physical elements connected in such
a manner so as to regulate, director command itself to achieve a certain objective.
Any control system consists of three essential components namely input, system and output.
The input is the stimulus or excitation applied to a system from an external energy source. A
system is the arrangement of physical components and output is the actual response obtained
from the system. The control system may be one of the following types.
1) Man made
2) Natural and / or biological and
3) Hybrid consisting of man-made and natural or biological.
Requirements of good control system are accuracy, sensitivity, noise, stability, bandwidth,
speed, oscillations
Types of control systems
Control systems are classified into two general categories based upon the control action
Which is responsible to activate the system to produce the output viz.
1) Open loop control system in which the control action is independent of the output.
2) Closed loop control system in which the control action is somehow dependent upon the
Output and are generally called as feedback control systems.

1.2. Open Loop System

It is a system in which control action is independent of output. To each reference input there is
a corresponding output which depends upon the system and its operating Conditions. The
accuracy of the system depends on the calibration of the system. In the presence of noise or
disturbances open loop control will not perform satisfactorily.
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Example: Automatic hand driver, automatic washing machine, bread toaster, electric lift, traffic
signals, coffee server, theatre lamp etc.
Automatic toaster:

Advantages of open loop system:

1. They are simple in construction and design.
2. They are economic.
3. Easy for maintenance.
4. Not much problem of stability.
5. Convenient to use when output is difficult to measure.
Disadvantages of open loop system
1. Inaccurate and unreliable because accuracy is dependent on accuracy of calibration.
2. Inaccurate results are obtained with parameter variations, internal disturbances.
3. To maintain quality and accuracy, recalibration of controller is necessary from time to time.
1.3. A closed loop control system:
Is a system in which the control action depends on the output. In closed loop control system
the actuating error signal, which is the difference between the input signal and the feedback
signal (output signal or its function) is fed to the controller. The elements of closed loop system
are command, reference input, error detector, control element controlled system and feedback
element.
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Elements of closed loop system are:

1. Command: The command is the externally produced input and independent of the feedback
control system.
2. Reference Input Element: It is used to produce the standard signals proportional to the
command.
Error Detector: The error detector receives the measured signal and compares it with
reference input. The difference of two signals produces error signal.
4. Control Element: This regulates the output according to the signal obtained from error
detector.
5. Controlled System: This represents what we are controlling by feedback loop.
6. Feedback Element: This element feedback the output to the error detector for comparison
with the reference input.
Example: Automatic electric iron, servo voltage stabilizer, sun-seeker solar system, water
level controller, human perspiration system.
Examples:
1. Human body

2. Home heating system

Advantages of closed loop system:

1. Accuracy is very high as any error arising is corrected.
2. It senses changes -in output due to environmental or parametric change, internal disturbance
etc. and corrects the same.
3. High bandwidth.
4. Facilitates automation.
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Disadvantages
1. Complicated in design and maintenance costlier.
2. System may become unstable.
1.4. Concepts of feedback:
Feedback system is that in which part of output is feeded back to input. In feedback system
corrective action starts only after the output has been affected.
1.5. Requirements of good control system :
Requirements of good control system are,
1. Accuracy: Accuracy must be very high as error arising should be corrected. Accuracy can
be improved by the use of feedback element
2. Sensitivity: A good control system senses quick changes in the output due to an environment,
parametric changes, internal and external disturbances
3. Noise: Noise: Noise is a unwanted signal and a good control system should be sensitive to
these type of disturbances
4. Stability: The stable systems has bounded input and bounded output. A good control system
should response to the undesirable changes in the stability
5. Bandwidth: To obtain a good frequency response, bandwidth of a system should be large
6. Speed: A good control system should have high speed that is the output of the system should
be fast as possible
7. Oscillations: For a good control system oscillation in the output should be constant and must
follow Barkhausein's Criteria.( According to Barkhausen criterion for sustained oscillation:
The magnitude of the product of open loop gain of the amplifier and the magnitude of the
feedback factor is unity, i.e., where A is the gain of the amplifying element in the circuit and
is the transfer function of the feedback path.)
1.6. Types of controllers:
An automatic controller compares the actual value of the system output with the reference
input (desired value), determines the deviation, and produces a control signal that will reduce
the deviation to zero or a small value. The manner in which the automatic controller produces
the control signal is called the control action. The controllers may be classified according to
their control actions as,
1. Proportional controllers.
2. Integral controllers.
3. Proportional-plus- integral controllers.
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4.Proportional-plus-derivative controllers.
5. Proportional-plus- integral-plus-derivative controllers
A proportional control system is a feedback control system in which the output forcing
function is directly proportional to error.
Proportional control mode: In this the output of the controller is proportional to the error e(t).
The relation between the error e(t) and the controller output p is determined by the constant
called proportional gain constant denoted as Kp. The output of the controller is a linear function
of the error e(t). The range of the error which covers 0% to 100% controller output is called
proportional band.
Though there exists linear relation between controller output and the error, the
controller output should not be zero, otherwise the process will come to halt. Hence there exists
some controller output po for the zero error. Hence mathematically proportional control mode
is expressed as
Where Kp = proportional gain constant
po = controller output with zero error
The error can be positive or negative because error r-b can be less or greater than reference
setpoint r.
If the controlled variable i.e., input to the controller increases, causing increase
in the controller output, the action is called direct action.
If the controlled variable decreases, causing increase in the controller output or
increase in the controller variable, causing decrease in the controller output, the action is called
reverse action.
So if e(t) is –ve then Kp e(t) gets subtracted from po and if e(t) is positive, then
Kp e(t) gets added to po, this is reverse action.
The error can be positive or negative because error r-b can be less or greater than reference
setpoint r.
If the controlled variable i.e., input to the controller increases, causing increase
in the controller output, the action is called direct action.
If the controlled variable decreases, causing increase in the controller output or
increase in the controller variable, causing decrease in the controller output, the action is called
reverse action.
So if e(t) is –ve then Kp e(t) gets subtracted from po and if e(t) is positive, then
Kp e(t) gets added to po, this is reverse action.
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Offset: The major disadvantage of proportional control mode is that it produces an offset error
in the output. When the load changes, the output deviates from the setpoint. Such a deviation
is called offset error or steady state error. The offset error depends on the reaction rate of the
controller. Slow reaction rate produces small offset error while fast reaction rate produces large
offset error.

Applications:
1. Manual reset of the operating point is possible.
2. Load changes are small.
3. The dead time exists in the system is small.
A integral control system is a feedback control system in which the output forcing function
is directly proportional to the first time integral of error.
Integral control mode:
In this controller, the value of the controller output p(t) is changed at a rate which is
proportional to the actuating error signal e(t). Mathematically it is expressed as,
Where, Ki = constant relating error and rate or integral constant.
Integrating the above equation, actual controller output at any time t can be obtained as,
Where, p(0) = controller output when integral action starts i.e. at t = 0.
The output signal from the controller, at any instant is the area under the actual error signal
curve up to that instant. If the value of the error is doubled, the value of p(t) varies twice as fast
i.e. rate of the controller output change also doubles.
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Step response of integral mode:

Characteristics of Integral mode:

1. If error is zero, the output remains at a fixed value equal to what it was, when the
error became zero.
2. If the error is not zero, then the output begins to increase or decrease, at a rate Ki%
per second for every +or-1% of error.
The inverse of Ki is called integral time Ti.
Ti = 1/Ki

A proportional-plus-integral control system is a feedback control system in which the output

forcing function is a linear combination of the error and its first time derivative.
This is composite control mode obtained by combining the proportional mode and the integral
mode.
The mathematical expression for such a composite control is,
Where p(0) = Initial value of the output at t = 0.
The important advantage of this control is that one to one correspondence of
proportional mode is available while the offset gets eliminated due to integral mode, the
integral part of such composite control provides a reset of the zero error output after a load
change occurs.
This is composite control mode obtained by combining the proportional mode and the integral
mode.
The mathematical expression for such a composite control is,
Where p(0) = Initial value of the output at t = 0.
The important advantage of this control is that one to one correspondence of
proportional mode is available while the offset gets eliminated due to integral mode, the
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integral part of such composite control provides a reset of the zero error output after a load
change occurs.

The response of composite PI control mode for the reverse action is shown in the fig.

Characteristic of PI mode:
1. When the error is zero, the controller output is fixed at the value that integral mode
had when the error went to zero. This is nothing but p(0).
2. When the error is not zero, proportional mode adds the correction while the integral
term starts increasing or decreasing from its initial value depending upon the reverse
or direct action.
3. It improves the steady state efficiency.
4. It increases the rise time so response becomes slow.
5. It decreases bandwidth of the system.
6. It filters out the high frequency noise.
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7. It makes the response oscillatory.

Applications: PI mode completely removes the offset problems of proportional mode. Such a
mode can be used in the systems with the frequent or large load changes. But the process
must have relatively slow changes in the load, to prevent the oscillations.
A proportional-plus- derivative control system is a feedback control system in which the
output forcing function is a linear combination of the error and its first time integral.
Proportional – Derivative Mode (PD Control Mode):
The series combination of proportional and derivative control modes gives proportional plus
derivative control mode. The mathematical expression for the PD composite control is,

The behaviour of such a PD control to a ramp type of the input is shown in fig.
The ramp function of error occurs at t = t1. The derivative mode causes a step Vd at t1 and
proportional mode causes a rise of Vp equal to Vd at t2. This is for direct action PD control.

Fig below shows the behaviour of PD control for the arbitrary load changes for reverse
action.
For the reverse action, the controller output is image of the error for the proportional mode.
While derivative mode causes sudden increase or decrease in the output corresponding to
decrease or increase in the error. This mode can not eliminate the offset of the proportional
mode.
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Characteristics of PD mode:
1. It improves the damping and reduces overshoot.
2. It reduces the rise time and makes response fast.
3. It makes the response stable very fast.
4. It improves the bandwidth of the system.
5. It cannot eliminate offset error.
6. It may make the noise dominant at high frequencies.
7. It is not very effective for lightly damped systems.
8. It may require a relatively large capacitor while the circuit implementation.
Applications:
It can not eliminate offset error of proportional mode. But it can be used to handle fast
process load changes if offset error is tolerable. It is used in many industrial process control
systems.
A proportional-plus-derivative-plus- integral control system is a feedback control system
in which the output forcing function is a linear combination of the error, its first time derivative
and its first time integral.
The composite controller including the combination of the proportional, integral and derivative
control mode is called PID control mode and the controller is called three mode controller. It
is very much complex to design but very powerful in action.
mathematically such a control mode can be expressed as,

Where p(0) = Initial value of the output.

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The integral mode eliminates the offset error of the proportional mode and the response is also
very fast due to derivative mode. The sudden response is produced due to derivative mode.
Thus it can be used for any process condition.
The fig shows the response of PID control for a particular error signal, assuming direct action.

Fig shows the response of various control modes to unit step load change.

 The proportional and PD control produces the offset error. It requires significant
time to attain the steady state.
 The PI control eliminates the offset but at the expense of the higher maximum
overshoot, a long period of oscillation and more settling time.
 The PD control produces the steady state very quickly with least oscillations and
smallest maximum overshoot but offset is significant.
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 With PID control, there is no offset and system achieves the steady state with less
settling time.
 Therefore PID is the ultimate process composite controller.

Modelling of Control Systems

The first step in the design and the analysis of control system is to build physical and
mathematical models. A control system being a collection of several physical systems (sub
systems) which may be of mechanical, electrical electronic, thermal, hydraulic or pneumatic
type. No physical system can be represented in its full intricacies. Idealizing assumptions are
always made for the purpose of analysis and synthesis. An idealized representation of physical
system is called a Physical Model.
Control systems being dynamic systems in nature require a quantitative mathematical
Description of the system for analysis. This process of obtaining the desired mathematical
description of the system is called Mathematical Modeling.
In Unit 1, we have learnt the basic concepts of control systems such as open loop and feedback
control systems, different types of Control systems like regulator systems, follow-up systems
and servo mechanisms. We have also discussed a few simple applications. In this chapter we
learn the concepts of modelling.
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The requirements demanded by every control system are many and depend on the system
under consideration. Major requirements are 1) Stability 2) Accuracy and 3) Speed of
Response. An ideal control system would be stable, would provide absolute accuracy (maintain
zero error despite disturbances) and would respond instantaneously to a change in the reference
variable. Such a system cannot, of course, be produced. However, study of automatic control
system theory would provide the insight necessary to make the most effective compromises so
that the engineer can design the best possible system. One of the important steps in the study
of control systems is modeling. Following section presents modeling aspects of various systems
that find application in control engineering. The basic models of dynamic physical systems are
differential equations obtained by the application of appropriate laws of nature. Having
obtained the differential equations and where possible the numerical values of parameters, one
can proceed with the analysis. When the
mathematical model of a physical system is solved for various input conditions, the results
represent the dynamic response of the system. The mathematical model of a system is linear,
if it obeys the principle of superposition and homogeneity. A mathematical model is linear, if
the differential equation describing it has coefficients, which are either functions of the
independent variable or are constants. If the coefficients of the describing differential equations
are functions of time (the independent variable), then the mathematical model is linear time-
varying. On the other hand, if the coefficients of the describing differential equations are
constants, the model is linear time-invariant. Powerful mathematical tools like the Fourier and
Laplace transformations are available for use in linear systems. Unfortunately no physical
system in nature is perfectly linear. Therefore certain assumptions must always be made to get
a linear model. Usually control systems are complex. As a first approximation a simplified
model is built to get a general feeling for the solution. However, improved model which can
give better accuracy can then be obtained for a complete analysis. Compromise has to be made
between simplicity of the model and accuracy. It is difficult to consider all the details for
mathematical analysis. Only most important features are considered to predict behavior of the
system under specified conditions. A more complete model may be then built for complete
analysis.
Modeling of Mechanical Systems:
Mechanical systems can be idealized as spring- mass-damper systems and the governing
differential equations can be obtained on the basis of Newton’s second law of motion, which
states that
F = ma: for rectilinear motion
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where F: Force, m: mass and a: acceleration (with consistent units)

T = I α: or Jα for rotary motion
where T: Torque, I or J: moment of inertia and α: angular acceleration (with consistent units)
Mass / inertia and the springs are the energy storage elements where in energy can be stored
and retrieved without loss and hence referred as conservative elements. Damper represents the
energy loss (energy absorption) in the system and hence is referred as dissipative element.
Depending upon the choice of variables and the coordinate system, a given physical model may
lead to different mathematical models. The minimum number of independent coordinates
required to determine completely the positions of all parts of a system at any instant of time
defines the degrees of freedom (DOF) of the system. A large number of practical systems can
be described using a finite number of degrees of freedom and are referred as discrete or lumped
parameter systems. Some systems, especially those involving continuous elastic members,
have an infinite number of degrees of freedom and are referred as continuous or distributed
systems. Most of the time, continuous systems are approximated as discrete systems, and
solutions are obtained in a simpler manner. Although treatment of a system as continuous gives
exact results, the analysis methods available for dealing with continuous systems are limited to
a narrow selection of problems. Hence most of the practical systems are studied by treating
them as finite lumped masses, springs and dampers. In general, more accurate results are
obtained by increasing the number of masses, springs and dampers-that is, by increasing the
number of degrees of freedom.
Mechanical systems can be of two types:
1) Translation Systems
2) Rotational Systems.
The variables that described the motion are displacement, velocity and acceleration.
And also we have three parameters-
Mass which is represented by ‘M’.
Coefficient of viscous friction which is represented by ‘B’.
Spring constant which is represented by ‘K’.
In rotational mechanical type of systems we have three variables-
Torque which is represented by ‘T’.
Angular velocity which is represented by ‘ω’
Angular displacement represented by ‘θ’

Now let us consider the linear displacement mechanical system which is shown below
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We have already marked various variables in the diagram itself. We have x is the displacement
as shown in the diagram. From the Newton’s second law of motion, we can write force as

From the diagram we can see that the, F = F1+F2+F3

On substituting the values of F1, F2 and F3 in the above equation and taking the Laplace
transform we have the transfer function as,

Mathematical Modeling of Electrical System:

In electrical type of systems we have three variables -
Voltage which is represented by ‘V’.
Current which is represented by ‘I’.
Charge which is represented by ‘Q’.
And also we have three parameters which are active and passive elements –
Resistance which is represented by ‘R’.
Capacitance which is represented by ‘C’.
Inductance which is represented by ‘L’.
Now we are in condition to derive analogy between electrical and mechanical types of
systems. There are two types of analogies and they are written below:
2.4. Force Voltage Analogy:
In order to understand this type of analogy, let us consider a circuit which consists of series
combination of resistor, inductor and capacitor.
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A voltage V is connected in series with these elements as shown in the circuit diagram. Now
from the circuit diagram and with the help of KVL equation we write the expression for voltage
in terms of charge, resistance, capacitor and inductor as,
A voltage V is connected in series with these elements as shown in the circuit diagram. Now
from the circuit diagram and with the help of KVL equation we write the expression for voltage
in terms of charge, resistance, capacitor and inductor as,

Now comparing the above with that we have derived for the mechanical system we find that-
1. Mass (M) is analogous to inductance (L).
2. Force is analogous to voltage V.
3. Displacement (x) is analogous to charge (Q).
4. Coefficient of friction (B) is analogous to resistance R and
5. Spring constant is analogous to inverse of the capacitor (C).
This analogy is known as force voltage analogy.
2.5. Force Current Analogy :
In order to understand this type of analogy, let us consider a circuit which consists of parallel
combination of resistor, inductor and capacitor.
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A voltage E is connected in parallel with these elements as shown in the circuit diagram. Now
from the circuit diagram and with the help of KCL equation we write the expression for current
in terms of flux, resistance, capacitor and inductor as,

Now comparing the above with that we have derived for the mechanical system we find that,
1. Mass (M) is analogous to Capacitor (C).
2. Force is analogous to current I.
3. Displacement (x) is analogous to flux (ψ).
4. Coefficient of friction (B) is analogous to resistance 1/ R and
5. Spring constant K is analogous to inverse of the inductor (L).
This analogy is known as force current analogy.
2.6. Transfer Functions definition
The transfer function of a control system is defined as the ration of the Laplace transform ofthe
output variable to Laplace transform of the input variable assuming all initial conditions to be
zero.

2.7. Block Diagram:

A control system may consist of a number of components. In order to show the functions
performed by each component in control engineering, we commonly use a diagram called the
Block Diagram. A block diagram of a system is a pictorial representation of the function
performed by each component and of the flow of signals. Such a diagram depicts the inter-
relationships which exists between the various components. A block diagram has the advantage
of indicating more realistically the signal flows of the actual system.
In a block diagram all system variables are linked to each other through functional blocks. The
―Functional Block or simply ―Block is a symbol for the mathematical operation on
the input signal to the block which produces the output. The transfer functions of the
components are usually entered in the corresponding blocks, which are connected by arrows to
indicate the direction of flow of signals. Note that signal can pass only in the direction of
arrows. Thus a block diagram of a control system explicitly shows a unilateral property.
Block diagram of a closed loop system.
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The output C(s) is fed back to the summing point, where it is compared with reference
input R(s). The closed loop nature is indicated in fig1.3. Any linear system may be represented
by a block diagram consisting of blocks, summing points and branch points. A branch is the
point from which the output signal from a block diagram goes concurrently to other blocks or
summing points. When the output is fed back to the summing point for comparison with the
input, it is necessary to convert the form of output signal to that of he input signal. This
conversion is followed by the feedback element whose transfer function is H(s) as shown in fig
1.4. Another important role of the feedback element is to modify the output before it is
compared with the input.
The ratio of the feedback signal B(s) to the actuating error signal E(s) is called the open loop
transfer function.
Open loop transfer function = B(s)/E(s) = G(s)H(s)
The ratio of the output C(s) to the actuating error signal E(s) is called the feed forward
transfer function.
Feed forward transfer function = C(s)/E(s) = G(s)
If the feedback transfer function is unity, then the open loop and feed forward transfer function
are the same. For the system shown in Fig1.4, the output C(s) and input R(s) are related
as follows.
C(s) = G(s) E(s)
E(s) = R(s) - B(s)
= R(s) - H(s) C(s)
But B(s) = H(s) C(s)
Eliminating E(s) from these equations
C(s) = G(s) [R(s) - H(s) C(s)]
C(s) + G(s) [H(s) C(s)] = G(s) R(s)
C(s)[1 + G(s)H(s)] = G(s)R(s)
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C(s)/R(s) is called the closed loop transfer function.

The output of the closed loop system clearly depends on both the closed loop transfer
function and the nature of the input. If the feedback signal is positive, then

SIGNAL FLOW GRAPHS

An alternate to block diagram is the signal flow graph due to S. J. Mason. A signal flow
graph is a diagram that represents a set of simultaneous linear algebraic equations. Each signal
flow graph consists of a network in which nodes are connected by directed branches. Each
node represents a system variable, and each branch acts as a signal multiplier. The signal flows
in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Definitions:
Node: A node is a point representing a variable or signal.
Branch: A branch is a directed line segment joining two nodes.
Transmittance: It is the gain between two nodes.
Input node: A node that has only outgoing branches. It is also, called as source and
corresponds to independent variable.
Output node: A node that has only incoming branches. This is also called as sink and
Corresponds to dependent variable.
Mixed node: A node that has incoming and outgoing branches.
Path: A path is a traversal of connected branches in the direction of branch arrow.
Loop: A loop is a closed path.
Self loop: It is a feedback loop consisting of single branch.
Loop gain: The loop gain is the product of branch transmittances of the loop.
Non-touching loops: Loops that do not possess a common node.
Forward path: A path from source to sink without traversing an node more than once.
Feedback path: A path which originates and terminates at the same node.
Forward path gain: Product of branch transmittances of a forward path.
Properties of Signal Flow Graphs:
1. Signal flow applies only to linear systems.
2. The equations based on which a signal flow graph is drawn must be algebraic equations
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in the form of effects as a function of causes. Nodes are used to represent variables. Normally
the nodes are arranged left to right, following a succession of causes and effects through the
system.
3. Signals travel along the branches only in the direction described by the arrows of the
branches.
4. The branch directing from node Xk to Xj represents dependence of the variable Xj on Xk
but not the reverse.
5. The signal traveling along the branch Xk and Xj is multiplied by branch gain akj and
signal akjXk is delivered at node Xj.
Guidelines to Construct the Signal Flow Graphs:
The signal flow graph of a system is constructed from its describing equations, or by direct
reference to block diagram of the system. Each variable of the block diagram becomes a node
and each block becomes a branch. The general procedure is 1. Arrange the input to output
nodes from left to right.
2. Connect the nodes by appropriate branches.
3. If the desired output node has outgoing branches, add a dummy node and a unity
gain branch.
4. Rearrange the nodes and/or loops in the graph to achieve pictorial clarity.
Mason’s Gain Formula:
The relationship between an input variable and an output variable of a signal flow graph is
given by the net gain between input and output nodes and is known as overall gain of the
system. Masons gain formula is used to obtain the overall gain (transfer function) of signal
flow graphs.
Gain P is given by
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Example 1
Obtain the transfer function of C/R of the system whose signal flow graph is shown in Figure

Solution:
There are two forward paths:
Gain of path 1 : P1=G1
Gain of path 2 : P2=G2

Example 2
Obtain the transfer function of C(s)/R(s) of the system whose signal flow graph is shown in
Figure
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QUESTIONS:
1. Define control system.
2. Distinguish between open loop and closed loop control system with suitable example.
3. What are the requirements of an ideal control system? Explain them.
4. With a suitable example explain regulatory system and follow - up system.
5. Explain the concept of feedback control system.
6. What is control action?
7. Explain proportional integral differential controller with the block diagram.
8. Explain following controller. State its characteristics.
a) Proportional plus derivative control action
b) Proportional plus integral control action.