Comparative Analysis of PID Controller Tuning Methods for Heat Exchanger Control: A MATLAB Simulation Study

This paper compares the performance of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller tuning methods for a heat exchanger process using MATLAB simulations. The effectiveness of two popular techniques, Ziegler-Nichols, Cohen and coon, and Internal Model Control (IMC), is investigated. The three methods are applied to tune the PID controller for a first-order plus time delay (FOPDT) model of the heat exchanger. The simulation results are analyzed to evaluate the closed-loop response characteristics, focusing on metrics like settling time, rise time, and overshoot. The performance of the Ziegler-Nichols, Cohen and coon and IMC tuning methods are compared in achieving desired control objectives for the heat exchanger process. The study aims to identify which tuning approach offers a superior response in terms of stability, speed, and accuracy for this specific application.