TUP MANILA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL

Basic Concept of Control System

We will be learning about the automatic control system and the two different types of control systems in automatic
control system.

Automatic control system plays an important role in the development and the advancement of modern civilization and
technology. Automation control system is widely used in numerous industrial applications such as manufacturing
automation space technology, transportation, robotics, etc. In domestic applications automatic control system is used in
heating ventilation and air conditioning systems to maintain the desired temperature and humidity of modern homes for
the comfort of building occupants. Now, we will see what is the control system and its different types.

A control system is a system that controls the output by regulating its input. The first control system called the fly ball
governor was invented by James Watt. In 1788 to control the speed of his steam engine by regulating the supply of
steam to the engine.

The basic concept of control system is shown in the figure.

The objective of this basic control system is to control the variable “y” in a predefined manner by actuating the signal
“x” through the elements of the control system. In common terms, the control variable is the output of the system and
the actuating signal is the input of the system.

To understand this, let's take the example of a bicycle handlebar

the direction of the bicycle front wheels is the controlled output,
and the position of the handlebar is the input. Similarly, if the
object used to control the speed of the bicycle, then the amount of
pressure on the pedals is the input variable and speed is the control
variable.

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TYPES OF CONTROL SYSTEM

The two different types of control systems are open loop control system or non feedback control system and the
closed loop control system or feedback control system.

❑ OPEN LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM

The block diagram here represents the open loop control system or non-feedback control system. An input signal or
command is applied to the controller whose output acts as the actuating signal that regulates the control process and
drive the control variable to the desired value.

To understand this, let's take a living room which is conditioned by a fan coil unit. Consider, this FCU works on a
time-based temperature control sequence where the chilled water control valve is opened and closed based on defined
time interval to maintain the room temperature. In this, defined time schedule is the input to the controller. The actuating
signal is the output to open or close the control valve actuator. The control process in this example is the room
temperature control and the controlled output is the amount of chilled water that is being fed to the cooling coil.

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Let's assume the control valve is set to fully open for 30 minutes continuously and fully close for the next 30 minutes
so the control wall operating cycle is 30 minutes open and 30 minutes close and so on. During the control wall open
cycle, the room temperature will be below the desired temperature and during the control wall close cycle, the room
temperature will be above the desired temperature. As it is impossible to calculate the amount of time required to keep
the control valve open or close to achieve the desired temperature. Due to external interferences such as outside
temperature, varying chilled water temperature, etc. It is clear that the desired room temperature cannot be achieved
with this type of control system due to inaccuracy in adapting to external interferences and unavailability of any feedback
signal to the control system to compare with that decide space temperature.

Another classic example of this open loop control system is a washing machine. The washing machine operation is
entirely depending on the amount of time said by the operator it is obvious that the clothes may be or may not be cleaned
thoroughly as there is no feedback to the washing machine about the cleanliness of the clothes.

❑ CLOSED LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM

The closed loop control system is more accurate and adaptable control with a link of feedback from the output of the
system to the input of the controller. In order to obtain more accurate control, the control process must be fed back and
compared with the reference input then the controller will decide how much activating signal is required to achieve the
desired output. The controller will actuate the signal till the error become negligible.

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A control system with one or more feedback is called the closed loop control system or feedback control system. Let's
go through the same example of maintaining the room temperature by actuating the chilled water control wall using a
closed loop control system. A room temperature sensor is provided as a feedback to the controller to calculate the errors
between the desired temperature and the actual room temperature. Now, the controller can decide how much the chilled
water control wall to be opened. In order to maintain the desired room temperature, the controller will actuate the control
wall to eliminate the error as the controller gets a real time feedback of the room temperature. Accurate and stable
control can be achieved with this closed loop control system.

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Human beings are probably the most complex and sophisticated feedback system with many inputs and outputs. Let's
consider our objective is to reach for a book on a shelf. As we reach our hands towards the shelf to get the book, the
brain signals a hand to perform the task. The eyes act as a sensing device which feedbacks the position of the hand and
the book to the brain continuously. The brain then calculates the error which is the distance between the book and the
hand and signals the hand to reach more till the book is reached. In this case, the brain is the control system and the eyes
acts as a feedback element.

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The concept of feedback plays an important role in the closed loop control system. Without the feedback a control
system would not be able to achieve the accuracy and reliability of complex systems. Some of the main differences
between the open loop control system and the closed loop control systems are shown here like we saw earlier open loop
control systems are independent of the output as feedback path is not present also open loop control systems are easy to
design and economical open loop control systems are very rarely used as it is inaccurate. On the other hand, the closed
loop control systems are dependent of the output as the feedback path is present also closed loop control systems are
costlier and difficult to design as it provides a great result.

KEY BENEFITS OF AN OPEN AND CLOSED CONTROL SYSTEM

❑ OPEN LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM
Open loop control systems have several advantages that make them suitable for various applications.
✓ Simplicity: Open-loop systems are typically less complicated than closed control loop systems. Their design
and operations are straightforward, making them easier to understand and implement.
✓ Stability: Due to the absence of a feedback loop, open-loop systems remain unaffected by potential disturbances
in the feedback, ensuring consistent performance.
✓ Cost Efficiency: Constructing and maintaining an open loop system is usually more cost-effective due to its
simple structure.
✓ Speed: Without the need to process feedback information, open-loop systems can often operate more swiftly
than their closed-loop counterparts.
✓ Immunity to Feedback Issues: Open loop systems are immune to problems that may arise in the feedback loop,
such as noise interference or feedback stability issues. This makes them a reliable choice in certain applications.
However, while these benefits make open-loop systems appealing in certain scenarios, their lack of a feedback
mechanism could be a limiting factor when a high level of accuracy or adaptability is required.

❑ CLOSED LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM

✓ Closed-loop control systems present several advantages, making them an ideal choice for certain applications.
✓ Accuracy: Due to the feedback mechanism, closed-loop systems can provide more accurate control than open-
loop systems. The system continuously monitors its output and makes necessary adjustments to achieve the
desired output.
✓ Adaptability: Closed loop systems can adapt to changes in the operating environment or process conditions due
to their feedback loop. This makes them suitable for applications where the conditions may vary and require
continuous adjustment.
✓ Stability: Despite potential disturbances, a well-designed closed-loop system can maintain stability in its output.
The feedback mechanism enables the system to correct itself and prevent deviation from the set point.
✓ Automation: With their self-regulating nature, closed-loop systems can operate without much human
intervention, making them ideal for automated processes.
✓ Efficiency: By continuously monitoring and adjusting their output, closed-loop systems can operate efficiently,
reducing waste and saving resources.

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However, it's important to mention that these benefits come with a level of complexity higher than that of open-loop
systems. Designing, implementing, and maintaining a closed-loop system can be more complex and expensive due to
its feedback mechanism.

In conclusion, both open-loop and closed-loop control systems have unique attributes that make them suitable for
different applications. Open-loop systems, with their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and speed, can be an ideal choice
for applications where precision is not paramount. On the other hand, closed-loop systems, with their high accuracy,
adaptability, and efficiency, are better suited for tasks requiring meticulous control and automated processes. Therefore,
understanding these systems and their features is crucial to select the best control system for a specific application,
balancing the trade-off between complexity and performance.

REFERENCES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZDPMTBCbYA
https://www.rteng.com/blog/open-loop-vs-closed-loop-control-systems

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