ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIA - 2012/2013

Project GF1 - Control Systems

Project Type: Group
Project Category: Design
Prerequisites: 3F1 & 3F2 useful
Timing: Fridays 11-1pm, Tuesdays 9-11am plus afternoons

SUMMARY

The project will involve the modelling and control of an 'evaporator', which is a process used in many industries (eg. dairy products, chemicals). As a first step a simulation model will be built and tested. Then a control system will be designed for the process, and its performance checked by simulating its operation with the evaporator. Modern simulation and analysis software will be used throughout.

AIMS

• To take students through the simulate/analyse/design/test cycle for an industrial control system (unfortunately omitting implementation).
• To expose students to state-of-the-art software for control engineering.
• To give students experience of simulating dynamic systems.

FORMAT

For the first three weeks students will work in pairs, with all pairs producing similar simulation models. For the final week, students will work in groups of 4, with each group having the option of using a different methodology for designing the final control system.

ACTIVITIES

Week 1: Familiarisation with Simulink simulation and Matlab software. Familiarisation with description and mathematical model of evaporator. Construction and test of Simulink model of the evaporator.

Week 2: Completion of testing Simulink model of the evaporator. Refining the model. Closing one control loop. First interim report.

Week 3: Initial control design for the whole model. Investigation of performance when model behaviour changes. Investigation of integrator wind-up. Second interim report.

Week 4: Group Activity. Choice of further control system design project. Final report.

ASSESSMENT

Format: Submission Date - Marks

Interim report 1: Friday 17 May 2013 - 20 marks

Interim report 2: Friday 24 May 2013 - 20 marks

Final report: 4pm Friday 7 June 2013 - 40 marks (of which 20 are for Group work)

Last updated: November 2012