Control of Outflow Quantity from Hopper : Application of LQ Control

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the control of an outflow quantity of a known amount of granules from a hopper. As the measuring apparatus of the outflow quantity, an impact-type flowmeter made in our laboratory is used. For the control algorithm, the LQ control method is applied to our system. Initially, the effect of the hold up on the dynamic characteristics of the flowmeter is investigated. Then the closed-loop behavior of the system under parameter mismatching and the modeling error between the plant and the observer model are examined. The following results are obtained: the dynamic characteristics of the hold up can be expressed by a first-order lag element; by applying LQ control to our system, good response waves for the step change of the set point and disturbance input are obtained.