You’ve seen the equations, but have you thought about how those elements work together? Part 4: Feed forward
In the first three blog posts (see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) we covered the basics of PID math. We started with the basic proportional-only controller and worked in the integral and derivative components. Well before get too far, let’s review the proportional-only controller:
u(t) = Kpe(t)
u(t) is the output of the controller at the end of the scan. If the output of the controller is a valve, then the output is the valve position that the controller is requesting after it has seen the inputs.
Kpe(t) is the proportional component, the P in PID. e(t), usually called “error,” is simply the difference between the setpoint and the process variable. Kp gain is a factor that is multiplied by the error to give you the new output—the new valve position. It’s that simple. The error at that instant of the scan is calculated and the new output is calculated.
The pseudo code that we discussed was:
Error = Setpoint – ProcessValueOutput = K * ErrorWith this code the output changes immediately after the error changes. I like to use a cruise control on a car as an example. As soon as the car starts to slow down as it starts to climb a hill, the change in error (speed) immediately causes the output to change.
But what if you know that the speed is about to slow down? What if you can see the hill coming? That’s where feed forward comes in. The first step is detecting a condition that will affect the process value. This can be an upstream flow rate that affects a level controller, a pressure change that affects a flow controller or any number of variables. The important thing is that the feed forward signal has to have a predictable affect on the controlled variable.
The math behind it is conceptually pretty simple. The feed forward signal is multiplied by a gain and then added directly to the output:
Error = Setpoint – ProcessValueOutput = K * Error + FeedForward * KfThat way as long as the feed forward signal doesn’t change, the controller is not affected. But, a change in the feed forward signal immediately makes a proportional type shift in the output.
The math does get more complicated when the time that it takes for the signal to affect the process value has to be considered. In that case a lead or lag calculation must be done to slow down or speed up the feed forward signal.
u(t) = Kpe(t)
u(t) is the output of the controller at the end of the scan. If the output of the controller is a valve, then the output is the valve position that the controller is requesting after it has seen the inputs.
Kpe(t) is the proportional component, the P in PID. e(t), usually called “error,” is simply the difference between the setpoint and the process variable. Kp gain is a factor that is multiplied by the error to give you the new output—the new valve position. It’s that simple. The error at that instant of the scan is calculated and the new output is calculated.
The pseudo code that we discussed was:
Error = Setpoint – ProcessValueOutput = K * ErrorWith this code the output changes immediately after the error changes. I like to use a cruise control on a car as an example. As soon as the car starts to slow down as it starts to climb a hill, the change in error (speed) immediately causes the output to change.
But what if you know that the speed is about to slow down? What if you can see the hill coming? That’s where feed forward comes in. The first step is detecting a condition that will affect the process value. This can be an upstream flow rate that affects a level controller, a pressure change that affects a flow controller or any number of variables. The important thing is that the feed forward signal has to have a predictable affect on the controlled variable.
The math behind it is conceptually pretty simple. The feed forward signal is multiplied by a gain and then added directly to the output:
Error = Setpoint – ProcessValueOutput = K * Error + FeedForward * KfThat way as long as the feed forward signal doesn’t change, the controller is not affected. But, a change in the feed forward signal immediately makes a proportional type shift in the output.
The math does get more complicated when the time that it takes for the signal to affect the process value has to be considered. In that case a lead or lag calculation must be done to slow down or speed up the feed forward signal.
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