Evaluation of an adaptive control algorithm for use in uniform droplet spray in droplet based manufacturing

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of a simulation study comparing the current integral control system with an adaptive control system for potential use in a Uniform Droplet Spray Process. First, an adaptive control algorithm was derived. Then, this algorithm and the existing integral control algorithm were coded for use in MATLAB simulations. The simulations were performed against each other over various sampling periods and noise classes to compare the performance of both droplet diameter mean and standard deviation. Results showed that for the target diameter of 760 [mu]m, the adaptive controller could produce droplets with the mean diameter of 759.9 [mu]m and a standard deviation of 0.0066 [mu]m, while the integral controller produced droplets having the mean diameter and standard deviation of 759.7 [mu]m and 0.0084 [mu]m, respectively. Over the sampling periods experimented with, the adaptive controller could produce droplets with the mean diameter of 759.9 [mu]m and a standard deviation of 0.0061 [mu]m, while the integral controller produced droplets having the mean diameter and standard deviation of 759.9 [mu]m and 0.0074 [mu]m, respectively.