Gravitational search algorithm optimization for PID controller tuning in waste-water treatment process

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach of optimization technique in the controller parameter tuning for waste-water treatment process (WWTP) application. In the case study of WWTP, PID controller is used to control substrate (S) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration level. Too many parameters that need to be controlled make the system becomes complicated. Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) is used as the main method for PID controller tuning process. GSA is based on Newton's Law of Gravity and mass interaction. In this algorithm, the searcher agents survey the masses that interact with each other using law of gravity and law of motion. For WWTP system, the activated sludge reactor is used and this system is multi-input multi-output (MIMO) process. MATLAB is used as the platform to perform the simulation, where this optimization is compared to other established optimization method such as the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to determine whether GSA has better features compared to PSO or vice-versa. Based on this case-study, the results show that transient response of GSA-PID was 20%-30% better compared to transient response of the PSO-PID controller