Cascade PID Controllers Applied on Level and Flow Systems in a SMAR Didactic Plant

The practical application of knowledge acquired during undergraduate studies is crucial for students to address real-world problems and seek solutions. The SMAR PD3 didactic plant provides a conducive environment for experiments in systems such as level and flow, common in various industrial sectors. Cascade control, an approach that sequentially uses two or more controllers, stands out as a promising strategy to enhance precision and stability in industrial processes. This work proposes a study on cascade control in flow and level systems, demonstrating its application in the didactic plant. The process involved system identification, tuning of conventional and cascade PI and PID controllers, followed by the implementation of the Successive Loop Closure technique. Results, in line with specialized literature, indicate that the implementation of cascade controllers in the industry can improve specific processes affected by disturbances or changes in variables, directly impacting the overall functioning of the process.