Control System

A control system is defined as a system of devices that manages, commands, directs, or regulates
the behavior of other devices or systems to achieve a desired result. A control system achieves
this through control loops, which are a process designed to maintain a process variable at a
desired set point.
As human civilization is being modernized day by day the demand for automation has increased
alongside it. Automation requires control over systems of interacting devices. In recent years,
control systems have played a central role in the development and advancement of modern
technology and civilization. Practically every aspect of our day-to-day life is affected more or
less by some type of control system.
Examples of control systems in your day-to-day life include an air conditioner, a refrigerator, an
air conditioner, a bathroom toilet tank, an automatic iron, and many processes within a car – such
as cruise control.

Types of Control System:

Let us take an example of the simple temperature controller of the room, to clear the concept.
Suppose there is a simple heating element, which is heated up as long as the electric power
supply is switched on. As long as the power supply switch of the heater is on the temperature of
the room rises and after achieving the desired temperature of the room, the power supply is
switched off.
Again, due to ambient temperature, the room temperature falls, and then manually the heater
element is switched on to achieve the desired room temperature again. In this way, one can
manually control the room temperature at the desired level. This is an example of a manual
control system.
Now let’s improve the way of controlling the temperature of the room by adding one sensor that
measures the difference between the actual temperature and desired temperature. If there are any
differences between them, the heating element functions to reduce the difference and when the
difference becomes zero, the heating elements stop functioning.

Control System

Open loop Control System Closed loop Control

1. Open Loop Control System:

  In this type of control system, the output is independent of desired output.
 It doesn’t have any feedback.
Examples:
a) Automatic washing machine is the example of the open loop systems. In the machine the
operating time is set manually. After the completion of set time the machine will stops,
with the result we may or may not get the desired (output) amount of cleanliness of
washed cloths because there is no feedback is provided to the machine for desired output.

b) Immersion rod is another example of open loop system. The rod heats the water but how
much heating is required is not sense by the rod because of no feedback to the rod.

c) Traffic light of Nepal. Three colors of lamp are used where the time for each lamp is
fixed. The operation of each lamp does not depend upon the density of the traffic but
depends upon the fixed time. Thus, we can say that the control system which operates on
the time basis is open loop system.
Advantages of open-loop control systems:
 Simple in construction and design.
 Economical.
 Easy to maintain.
 Generally stable.
 Convenient to use as output is difficult to measure.
Disadvantages of Open Loop Control System
 They are inaccurate.
 They are unreliable.
 Any change in output cannot be corrected automatically.
 2. Closed Loop Control System (Feedback control system)
Control systems in which the output has an effect on the input quantity in such a manner that the
input quantity will adjust itself based on the output generated is called a closed-loop control
system.
An open-loop control system can be converted into a closed loop control system by providing
feedback. This feedback automatically makes suitable changes in the output due to external
disturbance.
A closed loop control system is called an automatic control system.

Examples:
a) Automatic Electric Iron – Heating elements are controlled by the output temperature of
the iron.
b) Servo Voltage Stabilizer – Voltage controller operates depending upon the output voltage
of the system.
c) Water Level Controller – Input water is controlled by the water level of the reservoir.

Advantages of closed-loop control systems:

 Closed loop control systems are more accurate even in the presence of non-
linearity.
 Highly accurate as any error arising is corrected due to the presence of a feedback
signal.
 The bandwidth range is large.
 Facilitates automation.
 The sensitivity of the system may be made small to make the system more stable.
 This system is less affected by noise.

Disadvantages of Closed Loop Control System

 They are costlier.
 They are complicated to design.
 Required more maintenance.
 Feedback leads to an oscillatory response.
 Overall gain is reduced due to the presence of feedback.
 Stability is the major problem and more care is needed to design a stable closed
loop system.
History of control system
The first significant work in automatic control system was James Watt’s centrifugal governor for
speed control steam engine in 18th century.

Working Principle

The basic principle of a Watt's speed governor for an engine is illustrated in the above figure.
The amount of fuel admitted to the engine is adjusted according to the difference between the
desired and the actual engine speeds
The sequence of actions may be stated as follows:
The speed governor is adjusted such that, at the desired speed, no pressured oil will flow into
either side of the power cylinder. If the actual speed drops below the desired value due to
disturbance, then the decrease in the centrifugal force of the speed governor causes the control
valve to move downward, supplying more fuel, and the speed of the engine increases until the
desired value is reached. On the other hand, if the speed of the engine increases above the
desired value, then the increase in the centrifugal force of the governor causes the control valve
to move upward. This decreases the supply of fuel, and the speed of the engine decreases until
the desired value is reached.
In this speed control system, the plant (controlled system) is the engine and the controlled
variable is the speed of the engine. The difference between the desired speed and the actual
speed is the error signal. The control signal (the amount of fuel) to be applied to the plant
(engine) is the actuating signal. The external input to disturb the controlled variable is the
disturbance. An unexpected change in the load is a disturbance.