Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 1426

PC-Based Feedback Control with LabVIEW and a Data Acquisition Unit

Rafic Bachnak, Carlton Prewit Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Abstract

Feedback control is used by industry to regulate and improve responses and results of a variety of processes and systems. This paper describes the design and development of a feedback control system that maintains the temperature of a process at a desired set point. The system consists of a PC-based data acquisition unit that provides input and output interfaces between the PC and the sensor circuit and hardware. A proportional, integral, and derivative controller is implemented using LabVIEW. To demonstrate the functionality of the system a heating element that gives off a constant amount of heat is used. The paper provides details about the data acquisition unit, shows the implementation of the controller, and presents test results.

Introduction

Control systems can be found almost anywhere you look. They are used in automobiles, factories, homes and businesses, and are found in equipment used by any industry you can name. The job of a typical control system is to maintain something that is variable or changeable in a prescribed state. The human body for example has control systems that regulate heartbeat, maintain body temperature, and provide balance. Another common example is the temperature control system found in most homes. A control system keeps the air in a home at a certain temperature. It does this by sensing the ambient temperature, comparing it to the desired temperature, and producing a control action that keeps the ambient temperature at or near the desired temperature. This paper describes a system that involves designing, building, and demonstrating a regulatory control system. The system maintains the temperature of a process at a desired set point. The design incorporates a PC-based data acquisition system (DAQ) along with LabVIEW, a graphics-based programming language by National Instruments. LabVIEW has been used in many control systems applications [1-5]. The software implements a proportional, integral, and derivative controller.

To demonstrate the functionality of the system a heating element that gives off a constant amount of heat is used. The surface temperature of the heating element is regulated by varying the amount of cooling it receives. A small electric fan is placed directly in line with the heating element so that cool air is forced over it. The amount of heat transfer

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Bachnak, R. (2005, June), Pc Based Feedback Control With Labview And A Data Acquisition Unit Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15350