GA ASSIGNMENT

[TOWARDS THE ASSESSMENT OF GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE 4]

SUBMISSION DATE: 16 May 2025

INTRODUCTION

In this assignment, you are required to analyse and report on the temperature control system (located
in Lab E024). You will make use of the pre-programmed HMI in TIA Portal to operate and tune the
system and collect the necessary data (refer to the video recordings).

• You must work in groups of >=5 to collect your data, however, individual reports are to be
submitted. You may book your slots on the booking sheet provided on Funda.
• Your submission will be assessed for plagiarism (including the use of AI).
• Attach the excel spreadsheet with all your data neatly arranged.

OBJECTIVES

• Understand the basic principles of temperature control systems.

• Understand through analysis the benefits of closed-loop control.
• Understand the process of experimental system identification.
• Analyse the performance of the given temperature control system in the open loop and closed
loop.
• Demonstrate the ability to create and adjust the experimental plan.
• Analysed and interpret collected data using various statistical methods.
• Present the data in ways to enable comprehension and interpretation.
• Draw meaningful conclusions from the obtained results and makes appropriate
recommendations.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE REPORT:

• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
o Provide a brief overview of the assignment in your own words.
o Give an overview of the Temperature control system in the lab and provide a block
diagram for the system.
• Background:
o Discuss the importance and benefits of closed-loop over open-loop control giving
some examples of real-life temperature control processes on-board marine vessels.
o Discuss the process of system identification using time-domain analysis.
o Discuss PID control – what is its purpose etc.
o Discuss the Zeigler-Nichols tuning method.
o Make sure all your sources are well referenced.
• Methodology
o Provide details of what experiments you will conduct and how you will conduct them
(see examples given under results & analysis).
o Discuss how data will be sampled and retrieved from the Temperature station.
o Discuss sampling durations and how these were determined.
 o Provide details of your methods of statistical analysis, e.g. consider statistics such as
the mean, mean error, accuracy, repeatability, standard deviation, Hysteresis error
etc. Give a brief explanation of each of these and what you expect to gain from
obtaining these results.
o Discuss on-off control, make sure your sources are well referenced.
o Discuss what methods of analysis you will use to assess the effectiveness of your PID
controller.

Links to assist you with data analysis in Excel:

o Graphing two data sets on the same graph with Excel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7V1LPVlHck
o Statistical Data Analysis in Excel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ihkYREwbds
o Microsoft Excel data analysis tool for statistics mean, median, hypothesis, regression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lAvbp-yVs8
o Data Analysis – Repeatability
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__jN0qYDJH8

• Results and Analysis: [This section must be as detailed as possible because of GA4], the below
is an example of some of the areas of research you can do:
o Operational specifications of the open-loop system (This data will give you an idea
of the systems ideal operating band, i.e. the linear region):
▪ Minimum and maximum temperature achieved with fans off
▪ Heating curve with fans off
▪ Heating curve with fans on 100%
▪ Cooling curve with fans off
▪ Cooling curve with fans on 100%
▪ Provide statistical analysis and interpretation of your results and comment on
what is the system’s ideal operational region.
o Closed-loop specifications:
▪ On-Off control
▪ Set Kp = 1, Ki = 0, Kd = 0 (i.e. no control applied)
▪ Apply three step inputs to the system and collect the time response data. (i.e.
using the slider, give temperature setpoints of 40, 50, 60 degrees – ensure
that the system is round about room temperature before a step input is given
to the system).
▪ Using time-domain analysis techniques, analyse the collected data and
determine the transfer function of the system for each step input. Comment
on how similar or different they are.
▪ Plot the pole-zero locations for the system (you may use the pzmap function
in matlab).
▪ Implement your transfer function/s in Matlab and obtain the system
response.
▪ Tune your controller with Kp only until you have the best results you can
possibly get with Kp alone.
 ▪ Assess and report on the rise time of the system, the overshoot, the steady
state error, the peak time and any other relevant parameter with your chosen
value of Kp.
▪ Make use of Zeigler-Nichols tuning method to find your I and D gains for the
system.
▪ Assess and report on the rise time of the system, the overshoot, the steady
state error, the peak time and any other relevant parameter with your chosen
values of P, I and D.
▪ Display your results in the form of tables, graphs, charts etc. and analyse them
with a clear and concise explanations.
• Conclusion:
o Discuss your findings considering the objectives of your investigations.
o Does closed loop control make a difference?
o Recommendations

PC DETAILS: (Please book your time slots on Moodle).

PC 1
Login details:

• Username: siemenstcstudent
• Password: 123456

PC 2
Login details:

• Username: siemenstcstudent
• Password: 123456
 GA 4: INVESTIGATIONS, EXPERIMENTS AND DATA ANALYSIS

Learning outcome: Conduct investigations of broadly-defined problems through locating, searching and selecting relevant data from codes, data bases and
literature, designing and conducting experiments, analysing and interpreting results to provide valid conclusions.

Associated Assessment Criteria

Investigations and experiments are planned and conducted within an appropriate discipline
Performance is analysed, interpreted and derived from available data
Conclusions are drawn from an analysis of all available evidence
Level of performance
Unsatisfactory Re-assessment Satisfactory
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to devise an Demonstrates some ability to devise an experimental Demonstrates the ability to adjust the experimental
experimental plan to evaluate design requirements. plan on basis of new knowledge. plan on basis of new knowledge.
Performance is incorrectly analysed, interpreted and Performance is inadequately analysed, interpreted Performance is correctly analysed, interpreted and
derived from available data. and derived from available data. derived from available.
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to present data Demonstrates some ability to present date in ways Demonstrates the ability to present data in ways to
clearly. Error analysis is wrong or missing. that somewhat aid comprehension and enable comprehension and interpretation,
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to draw interpretation and incorporate error analysis, but incorporating error analysis.
conclusions or make recommendations. presentation can be clearer. Demonstrates the ability to draw conclusions and
Demonstrates some ability to draw conclusions and makes appropriate recommendations.
makes recommendations that may or may not be
relevant to the investigation.

Have all the GA associated assessment criteria been satisfied? NO YES

Comments

Name of Examiner: Signature: Date:

Name of Moderator: Signature: Date:
 GA 5: ENGINEERING METHODS, SKILLS, TOOLS, INCLUDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Learning outcome: Use appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering tools, including information technology, prediction and modelling, for
the solution of broadly-defined engineering problems, with an understanding of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions and constraints.

Associated Assessment Criteria

The method, skill or tool is applied correctly to achieve the required result.
Results, prediction and modelling produced by the method, skill or tool are tested and assessed against required results.
Computer applications are created, configured, or selected, and used as required by the discipline.
Level of performance
Unsatisfactory Re-assessment Satisfactory
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to describe Demonstrates some ability to describe and/or explain Demonstrates the ability to describe and explain the
and/or explain the principles behind and applicability the principles behind and applicability of engineering principles behind and applicability of engineering
of engineering tools tools tools.
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to create Demonstrates some ability to create computer Demonstrates the ability to create computer
computer applications as required or uses computer applications as required, but do not explain or applications as required and uses sections of existing
applications without consideration of applicable consider the use of existing libraries or their functions code with a full justification and explanation of
existing libraries or their functions within the code. within the code. libraries
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to create Demonstrates some ability to create engineering Demonstrates the ability to create engineering tools.
engineering tools. tools with guidance. Demonstrates the ability to identify the limitations of
Demonstrates minimal or no ability to identify the Demonstrates some ability to identify the limitations tools and understand the assumptions.
limitations of tools and understand the assumptions. of tools and some understanding of assumptions.

Have all the GA associated assessment criteria been satisfied? NO YES

Comments

Name of Examiner: Signature: Date:

Name of Moderator: Signature: Date: