## TCLab On/Off Control

Objective: Generate data from an On/Off controller and determine the parameters of a 2nd order underdamped model that best fits the response.

On/off control is used in most cooling and heating applications where the actuator can only be On or Off. Run the temperature control lab with On/Off control for 4 minutes to reach a setpoint of 40oC.

On/Off Control (4 min)

import tclab
import time
a = tclab.TCLab() # connect to TCLab
fid = open('data.csv','w')
fid.write('Time,Q1,T1\n')
fid.write('0,0,'+str(a.T1)+'\n')
fid.close()
for i in range(240):  # 4 minute test
time.sleep(1)
T1 = a.T1 # temperature
Q1 = 100 if T1<=40.0 else 0 # On/Off Control
a.Q1(Q1) # set heater
print('Time: '+str(i)+' Q1: '+str(Q1)+' T1 (SP=40): '+str(T1))
fid = open('data.csv','a')
fid.write(str(i)+','+str(Q1)+','+str(T1)+'\n')
fid.close()
a.close()

Generate Plot

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import pandas as pd
data = pd.read_csv('data.csv')
plt.figure(figsize=(10,7))
ax=plt.subplot(2,1,1); ax.grid()
plt.plot(data['Time'],data['Q1'],'b-',label=r'$Q_1$ (%)')
plt.legend(); plt.ylabel('Heater')
ax=plt.subplot(2,1,2); ax.grid()
plt.plot(data['Time'],data['T1'],'r-',label=r'$T_1$ $(^oC)$')
plt.legend(); plt.xlabel('Time (sec)'); plt.ylabel('Temperature')
plt.show()

Use a graphical method to fit a 2nd order model to the closed-loop response by finding K_p, \zeta, and \tau_s. Dead-time \theta_p is not needed for this model.

$$\tau_s^2 \frac{d^2T_1}{dt^2} + 2 \zeta \tau_s \frac{dT_1}{dt} + T_1 = K_p \, Q_1$$

Follow the steps to obtain a graphical approximation of a step response of the underdamped (oscillating) second order system. An underdamped system implies that 0 \ge \zeta > 1.

1. Find \Delta T_1 from step response.
2. Find \Delta T_{SP} as the input to the step response.
3. Calculate K_p = {\Delta T_1}/{\Delta T_{SP}.
4. Calculate damping factor \zeta from overshoot OS or decay ratio DR.
5. Calculate \tau_s from equations for rise time t_r, peak time t_p, or period P.

Add the underdamped (0\le\zeta<1) analytic solution to data plot to compare the graphical fit to the data. See Second Order Systems for additional information on analytic solutions.

$$T'_1(t) = K_p \Delta T_{SP} \left( 1-e^{-\zeta\,t/\tau_s} \left[ \cos\left( \frac{t}{\tau_s}\sqrt{1-\zeta^2} \right) + \frac{\zeta}{\sqrt{1-\zeta^2}} \sin\left( \frac{t}{\tau_s}\sqrt{1-\zeta^2} \right) \right] \right)$$

Solution

1. Find \Delta T_1 from step response.

The temperature starts at 20oC and has an average final value above the setpoint (40oC) at 41oC. The change in temperature is 21oC.

2. Find \Delta T_{SP} as the input of the step response.

The heater setpoint changes from 20 to 40oC.

3. Calculate K_p = {\Delta T_1}/{\Delta T_{SP}.

Kp = 21/20 = 1.05oC/oC.

4. Calculate damping factor \zeta from overshoot OS or decay ratio DR.

The overshoot (OS) ratio is (44-41)/(41-20) = 0.143.

$$\zeta = \sqrt{\frac{\left(\ln(OS)\right)^2}{\pi^2 + \left(\ln(OS)\right)^2}} = 0.527$$

5. Calculate \tau_s from the equation peak time t_p.

$$\tau_s = \frac{\sqrt{1-\zeta^2}}{\pi}t_p = 23.2$$

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import pandas as pd
import numpy as np

data = pd.read_csv('data.csv')

# graphical fit
Delta_SP = 20
Delta_T1 = 21
OS = (44-41)/(41-20)
tp = 86.0
Kp = Delta_T1/Delta_SP
lnOS2 = (np.log(OS))**2
zeta = np.sqrt(lnOS2/(np.pi**2+lnOS2))
taus = tp * np.sqrt(1-zeta**2)/np.pi
print('Kp: ' + str(Kp))
print('zeta: ' + str(zeta))
print('taus: ' + str(taus))

# analytic solution
t = data['Time'].values
T0 = data['T1'].values[0]
a = np.sqrt(1-zeta**2)
b = t/taus
c = np.cos(a*b)
d = (zeta/a)*np.sin(a*b)
T1 = Kp*Delta_SP*(1-np.exp(-zeta*b)*(c+d))+T0

plt.figure(figsize=(10,7))
ax=plt.subplot(2,1,1); ax.grid()
plt.plot(data['Time'],data['Q1'],'b-',label=r'$Q_1$ (%)')
plt.legend(); plt.ylabel('Heater')
ax=plt.subplot(2,1,2); ax.grid()
plt.plot(data['Time'],data['T1'],'r-',label=r'$T_1$ Meas $(^oC)$')
plt.plot(t,T1,'k:',label=r'$T_1$ Pred $(^oC)$')
plt.legend(); plt.xlabel('Time (sec)'); plt.ylabel('Temperature')
plt.show()