Simplifying controller for process control of systems with large dead time

Large dead time is a significant control problem and source of instability for the control loop. A Smith Predictor scheme provides a conventional larg e dead time compensation leaving other process dynamics to the separate con troller. The real long dead time processes, such as heat transfer and flow control systems, typically exhibit long time delays intertwined with other process dynamics. One of the authors, Roman Gorecki, proposed and implement ed a new algorithm, based on the principle of simplification of the control system transfer function, to deal with this issue. The concept of this new algorithm, called a Simplifying Controller, is briefly presented. It is fo llowed by the real system example where a heat transfer process control sys tem with use of the Simplifying Controller is described. The Simplifying Co ntroller algorithm offers improved control for large dead-time process cont rol applications. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.