Temperature self-tuning generalized predictive control in a psychrometric tunnel

Abstract

This work has as objective the project a self-tuning generalized predictive controller (GPC) for temperature control in a psychrometric tunnel. The tunnel is composed of a ventilation system and a cooling system. The air blower is driven by one DC motor controlled by a computer to generate and to move a variable flow of air inside the tunnel. The temperature of the air is measured by a sensor fitted to the end of the tunnel. The temperature control is accomplish in real time. The system parameters are estimates by the recursive least squares method and a GPC controller is projected and used in air flow temperature control. GPC is a specific strategy of control based on the explicit model of the system. The controller is implemented through the LabVIEW software and a data acquisition board. As experimental results are shown: temperature response, parameters estimates, estimation error and control variable.