An adaptive optimisation scheme for controlling air flow process with satisfactory transient performance

A non-identifier-based adaptive PI controller is designed using a gradient approach to improve the performance of a control system when device aging and environmental factors degrade the efficiency of the process. The design approach is based on the model reference adaptive control technique. The controller drives the difference (error) between the process response and desired model output to zero asymptotically at a rate constrained by the desired characteristics of the model. The tuning rules are designed and justified for a non-linear process with dominant dynamics of second order. The advantage of this method for tracking and regulation compared to adaptive MIT control was validated in real time by conducting experiments on a laboratory air flow control system using the dSPACE interface in the SIMULINK software. The experimental results show that the process with adaptive PI controller has better dynamic performance and robustness than that with traditional adaptive MIT controller.