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ABSTRACT
Aside from thermal systems, other physical example of the systems following a first-order differential behavior is the
liquid level system. Assumptions considered in such system includes that the control valves in the inlet and outlet flow
streams offer resistance to the flow of the liquid, which depends on the opening of the valve. Liquids flowing at
laminar ranges shows a linear relationship between the volumetric flowrate, resistance and the head. The transfer
function for the liquid level system involves not just the time constant, but it also accounts for the resistance of the
valve. The time constant is a function of the area of the container or tank and the resistance of the valve. The resistance
can be determined using graphical solution. The inverse of the slope of the line when Qs(t) is plotted versus the step
input change, H(t), is the resistance. Time constant can be calculated using the determined resistance. The trend of the
data suggests that the height has an asymptotic relationship with time. Supposedly, the result should show a step input.
Since there is a lag, the trend shows a nonlinear relation. In order to linearize the data, the steady-state conditions are
only considered in this case. Using this, the required parameters can be easily calculated. The results can be compared
through calculating the theoretical values for the time constant and resistance. This is by adapting the assumption that
the time corresponding to a height that is 63% of the steady-state height is the time constant.
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system for any changes in the resistance transfer function for this system is modified
caused by the valve. in such a way to also account the effect of the
resistance of the valve, shown in (2).
()
= (2)
() + 1
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For this experiment, the time constant of the attaining it. From the initial height to the
single tank liquid level system and the steady-state height, various height readings
resistance of the inlet flow should be were also recorded at one-minute increment.
determined using a step input function. Also,
B. Determination of the resistance and time
the steady-state inlet flowrate, Qs(t) versus
constant for a step input.
the step input change, H(t) should be plotted.
From the calibrated initial steady-state
The materials and equipment used in this was changed into other value by changing the
experiment were tape measure, graduated opening of the valve. From the time that the
cylinder, water container with faucet, bucket volumetric flow rate was adjusted into
and flashlight. The chemical used in this different setting, the timer recorded the time
experiment was tap water. required for the system to achieve a steady-
state height. Several data point were again
II. Procedures
gathered at every one-minute interval. The
A. Calibration of the initial steady-state steady-state height was again recorded when
height. the liquid level in the container was not
changing anymore.
Initially, the tank contains a certain amount
of water with an initial height. At a fixed III. Treatment of Results
valve opening, the water was allowed to flow
The data gathered in this experiment were the
inside the tank/container system while it is
different liquid heights at every one-minute
also simultaneously allowed to flow out
increment. From this, the steady-state
through the another valve just at the bottom
volumetric flow rate was also determined
part. The initial height changes, and a certain
getting a certain amount of volume and
height was achieved where there is no change
dividing it by the time required to achieve
occurring anymore, indicating that the height
that volume.
attained was at steady-state already. This
steady-state height achieved was recorded as
() = (5)
well as the corresponding time required in
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The resistance of the valve in the inlet flow RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
was determined using the plot of Qs(t) versus
The different heights of the liquid inside the
H(t). The inverse of the slope of the generated
container and the corresponding time in
line in the plot is actually the resistance [3].
achieving such height are being summarized
in Table 1 for both initial and final step input
change in the system.
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container. Supposedly, the ideal trend data 250
H(t), min
is a lag in achieving the steady-state liquid
level, this results to an asymptotic trend. So 100
100
H(t), mm
80
Table 2. Summary of the q(t) and h(t) for the
60 steady-state initial and final step.
q(t) h(t)
40
Initial 0.000309 0.125
20 Final 0.000594 0.196
0
0 5 10 15 20
t, min
The plot of Qs(t) versus H(t) is shown in
Figure 5 which has a linear relationship
Figure 3. Step input response for the initial
where the points are from the steady-state
step.
conditions of the initial and final step.
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0.0007 For a comparative analysis, percentage error
0.0006 y = 0.004x - 0.0002
was calculated for the deviation of the actual
0.0005 R = 1
0.0004 values from the theoretical value of height
Qs(t)
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the actual and theoretical values for the time REFERENCES
constant.
[1] Coughanour, D. R. 1991. Process
Systems Analysis and Control.
CONCLUSION
McGraw-Hill, Inc.
For any control system, time constant is an [2] Perry, R. H. and Green, D. W. 2008.
Perrys Chemical Engineers
important parameter because it describes how
Handbook. The McGraw-Hill
delay the process will be. For the system used Companies, Inc. 8th Edition.
in the experiment, which is the liquid level [3] Seborg, D. E., Edgar, T. F. and
system, the time constant describes how Mellichamp, D. A. 2004. Process
Dynamics and Control. John Wiley &
much lag does the system experience in Sons, Inc. 2nd Edition.
achieving a steady-state liquid level when
such disturbance enters. The resistance of the
control valve in the inlet flow can be a source
of disturbance. This may vary when
resistance changes (i.e. change in the valve
opening). In the experiment proper, the time
constant shows significant value. It can be
seen in the H(t) versus t plot that the required
time to achieve the steady-state height of the
liquid in the tank is quietly large. Also, from
the initial and final step, the trend of data
shows a linear relationship, therefore
equations following a linear relationship can
be used in the calculation of the resistance
and the time constant for the system.
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