A Distributed PID Controller for an Injector Powered Transonic Wind Tunnel

Abstract This paper deals with design and implementation of a distributed PID pure feedback control system for the regulation of critical test parameters of the CIRA Injector Powered Transonic Wind Tunnel in its whole operating envelope. Fine tuning was performed by using a combined numerical/experimental approach which allows to reduce, with respect to classical approaches, costs, risks and time needed to perform control system experimental tuning. The achieved results in terms of optimised dynamic and steady performances and the low number of experimental test needed for final tuning justified the major effort spent in developing a detailed simulation model.