Design of non-parametric process-specific optimal tuning rules for PID control of flow loops

Abstract The problem of designing optimal process-specific rules for non-parametric tuning is undertaken in the paper. It is shown that producing non-parametric process-specific optimal tuning rules for PID controllers leads to the problem that can be characterized as optimization under uncertainty. This happens due to the fact that tuning rules, unlike tuning constants, are produced not for a particular process or plant model but for a set of models from a certain domain. The novelty of the proposed approach is that the problem of obtaining optimal tuning rules for a flow process is formulated and solved as a problem of optimization of an integral performance criterion parametrized through values that define the domain of available process models. The considered non-parametric tuning assumes the use of the modified relay feedback test (MRFT) recently proposed in the literature. It allows one to tune the PID controller satisfying the requirements to gain or phase margins that is achieved through coordinated selection of tuning rules and test parameters. This approach constitutes a holistic approach to tuning. In the present paper, optimal tuning rules coupled with MRFT, for flow loops, are proposed. Final results are presented in the form of tables containing coefficients of optimal tuning rules for the PI controller, obtained for a number of specified gain margins. The produced non-parametric tuning rules well agree with the practice of loop tuning.