Control Theory Project Outline 2018

Control Theory Project Outline 2018
1. Introduction:
This is a guideline outlining the details, rules and general requirements for the control theory course project.
The goal of the projects is to give you examples of how to implement control system methods and techniques
developed during the course. Use Matlab/Simulink to develop model or figures or any other parts of the project.

report submission is
2. Project organization and rules:
– Groups:
i. Each group will consist of maximum of two members (no exceptions). However, if you want you can
pursue the project independently.
ii. You are responsible for finding your own partners.
– You may complete the reports on your own if you wish, or if you are unable to locate a partner.

-Project selection: There are four projects. Each group will select one of four projects. You must inform us of
your group and project selection by October 26th either during the tutorial, class lecture or GA office hour.
We may assign you a project to distribute all projects evenly. All projects are same difficulty level.
-Plagiarism: All project related work and report is to be produced by you/your-group. Coping from other
groups work or from any open-access source is not allowed. We will rigorously check for Plagiarism.
-Project grading: The criteria to be used for the evaluation of the final report will be technical accuracy,
engineering insight, and quality of the report writing, figures and conclusion. It is not required that students
type their reports. Clear handwritten reports are acceptable.
-Late submissions: It is your responsibility to submit on time. 10% per school days will be deducted for late
submissions up to Dec 06, zero will be assigned after that.
3. Suggested steps to complete the project:
There are many ways to solve each one of the suggested problems. Each one of the projects will consist of the
following major steps:
1. Dynamic modeling (showing full steps of finding governing equations)
2. Development of transfer functions and block diagram (development of transfer function relating
input to output for the open loop system)
3. Development of block diagram showing the dynamics of the closed loop system and the controller.
4. Selection of controller structure. All groups will first implement a Proportional control law. If the
group is not satisfied with the P-control, the group may move to an alternative structure.
5. Selection of control parameter(s)
6. Characterization of performance of closed-loop system
7. System type, Root locus for a proportional controller, Bode phase plots and discussions, transient
characteristics.
8. Conclusion on the system and controller characteristics/performance
Neutron flux liquid control system
The schametic below is a simplified diagram of a nuclear power plant neutron flux liquid control system. It consists of two
tanks containing water, the water acts as method of fine tuning the reactor power. The primary is located in the reactor
core and its level will be used to control the neutron power level. The input signal will be the neutron power signal and
will be used to determine the height of water required in the first tank. The second tank is the drainage tank, the intel for
control tank is controlled by the pump while the outlet is constantly draining into the second tank. As more water is
required it is pumped into control tank from the drainage tank. An armature controlled DC motor drives a valvle to control
the flow of fluid into the two cascade tanks.

A position servomechanism is usually a feedback control system in which the controlled variable is
physical position. A typical servo system found in the industry is shown by a simplified schematic as
below showing an armature controlled DC motor with transmission and inertial load. These systems
have many applications such as for positioning valves, in assembly equipment in manufacturing etc.
A schematic of such system is given below with all the relevant parameters defined.