Optimized modelling of a laboratory-scaled water distribution system

Abstract

In today’s modern control system, optimization is essential in enhancing system capabilities and to achieve the “best” design relative to a set of prioritized constrains. This study aims to investigate the application of particle swarm optimization (PSO) in optimizing a PID controller that is developed for the mathematical models of laboratory-scaled water distribution system produced by the Prediction Error Minimization (PEM) in MATLAB. In this work, the priority is focused on improving the PID controller performance, in terms of the level control of a laboratory-scaled process system. This is achieved by determining the optimal PID controller parameters utilizing PSO tuning technique. From the results obtained, the selected mathematical model of the system are the sixth order and an eighth order model which yield zero steady-state errors when applied with the PID-PSO algorithm. The proposed method was more robust and efficient in improving the performance of the water level control.