DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRAPRADESH
Name : Smt. RANI KAVATI
Designation : LECTURER
Branch : Applied Electronics and Instrumentation
Engineering
Institute : S.G.P.R Govt, Polytechnic, Kurnool
Semester : V Semester
Subject : PROCESS CONTROL
Subject code : AEI-504
Topic : controller principles
Duration : 100 min
Sub Topic : Pneumatic controllers
Teaching Aids : Diagrams and animations.

AEI 504.20 TO 21 1
 Recap

We have discussed
• Process characteristics

• Controller modes

• Analog controller elements

AEI 504.20 TO 21 2
 Objectives

On completion of this period, you would be able to know

about

• Implementation of Pneumatic controllers.

AEI 504.20 TO 21 3
 Interaction/Discussion

• What is the need of implementing pneumatic controller?

• Electronic methods were not yet competitive in cost and

reliability and safety

AEI 504.20 TO 21 4
 General features of pneumatic controllers

• In pneumatic controllers the working signal is from regulated

air supply of 20 to 30 psi.

• In pneumatic controllers the output is directly proportional to

input

• Pneumatic controllers works on the principle of nozzle/flapper

mechanism

AEI 504.20 TO 21 5
 Pneumatic proportional controller

Pin

P out

Pivot P supply
AEI 504.20 TO 21 6
 Principle of operation of pneumatic
proportional controller

• In proportional controller if the input pressure increases then

the input bellow forces the flapper to rotate to close off the
nozzle
• When the flapper closes the nozzle the output pressure (Pout)
increases

• Due to increase of Pout the feedback bellow exerts a force to

balance that of the input bellow

AEI 504.20 TO 21 7
• A balance condition occurs when torques exerted by input
bellow & out bellow about the pivot are equal, then

p out
 po  A2 x2   Pin  Psp  A1 x1 .......(1)

• From equation (1) pout can be obtained

x A
p 
x A
out
 p p1 1

in sp
p
0

2 2

AEI 504.20 TO 21 8
• Po = pressure with no error

• P in = input pressure

• A1 = input and set point bellows effective area

•X1 = Input lever arm

•P out = output pressure

•A2 = feedback bellow effective area

•X2 = feedback lever arm

•Psp = set point pressure

AEI 504.20 TO 21 9
 x1 A1
• Proportional gain KP = x A
2 2

• Usually bellows are of fixed geometry the gain is

varied by changing the lever arm length

AEI 504.20 TO 21 10
 Pneumatic proportional +integral controller

• Pneumatic PI controller can be implement by adding an

extra bellow with variable restriction to proportional

controller

AEI 504.20 TO 21 11
Pneumatic proportional +integral controller

Integral
bellow

AEI 504.20 TO 21 12
 Controller action

• Integral bellows remains at output pressure

• Increased pressure on the out put bleeds through restriction

• Integral bellows Cause a steady increase in output pressure

• Variable restriction allows for variation of leakage rate and

integration time.

AEI 504.20 TO 21 13
Pneumatic Proportional+ derivative controller

• Variable restriction is placed on the line leading to the balance

bellows

AEI 504.20 TO 21 14
Pneumatic Proportional + derivative controller

AEI 504.20 TO 21 15
 Controller action
• Input pressure increases ,flapper move toward nozzle

• Restriction prevent immediate response of balance bellows

• Output pressure rises very fast

• Leaks into balance bellows

• Moves the flapper away from nozzle

AEI 504.20 TO 21 16
 Pneumatic three mode PID controller

Any of the modes can be accomplish by restriction setting

By setting variable restriction size and bellows separation,

below parameters can be adjusted

• Proportional gain

• Reset time

• Rate of control

AEI 504.20 TO 21 17
Pneumatic three mode PID controller

AEI 504.20 TO 21 18
 Summary

We have discussed about

Implementation of pneumatic controllers.

AEI 504.20 TO 21 19
 Quiz

1. In Proportional + derivative control adjustment of variable

restriction results

a) Derivative time constant

b) Integration time

c) None of the above

AEI 504.20 TO 21 20
• In Proportional + integral control adjustment of variable

restriction results

a) Derivative time constant

b) Integration time

c) None of the above

AEI 504.20 TO 21 21
 Frequently Asked Questions

• Explain pneumatic proportional control mode

• Explain pneumatic proportional + integral control mode

• Explain pneumatic proportional + derivative control mode

• Explain pneumatic proportional + integral+ derivative

control mode

AEI 504.20 TO 21 22