I'm looking at embarking on a project which will entail the use of a 3-port proportional 'flow control' type solenoid valve - one with no feedback mechanism or onboard controls. Just a 13 ohm, 0-1000mA coil which acts against a calibrated spring.
I will need to design and implement a control scheme to regulate output pressure against a dynamic setpoint. These valves are fast acting (<30ms response) but they do have some dead zone in the middle of their travel as well as inductance. My control logic will most likely be handled by a Parallax Propeller 1 8-core microcontroller.
As someone who is new to the area of high speed control loops, can anyone recommend some literature or other resources to help me get a firm grasp on the basics of embedded closed-loop control? At least enough to arrive at a working prototype that I can experiment with, learn from and refine?
If it's relevant at all, I'm looking at using an SMC VEF3121-1-02 3-port proportional valve. 'R' ("normally closed") will be connected to atmosphere, 'P' ("normally open") will be connected to my pressure source, and 'A' (the common port) will be my controlled output.
You could envision it as being very similar to this sort of a system, but where pressure is the controlled variable rather than position:
I will need to design and implement a control scheme to regulate output pressure against a dynamic setpoint. These valves are fast acting (<30ms response) but they do have some dead zone in the middle of their travel as well as inductance. My control logic will most likely be handled by a Parallax Propeller 1 8-core microcontroller.
As someone who is new to the area of high speed control loops, can anyone recommend some literature or other resources to help me get a firm grasp on the basics of embedded closed-loop control? At least enough to arrive at a working prototype that I can experiment with, learn from and refine?
If it's relevant at all, I'm looking at using an SMC VEF3121-1-02 3-port proportional valve. 'R' ("normally closed") will be connected to atmosphere, 'P' ("normally open") will be connected to my pressure source, and 'A' (the common port) will be my controlled output.
You could envision it as being very similar to this sort of a system, but where pressure is the controlled variable rather than position:
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