Does Tuning a PID Controller Require a Bump Test?

It’s generally accepted that tuning a PID controller requires some form of testing. Whether a step, bump, doublet, or pseudo random binary sequence, the test forces a change to the Controller Output (CO) which drives a response in the Process Variable (PV). The dynamic relationship between the CO and PV provides the basis for modeling a process’ behavior. In turn, the model is converted into tuning parameters corresponding with your controller. All of this is made possible by conducting a simple test. But what if it’s not that simple.

Read More

How Do I Perform an Effective Bump Test?

Bumping a process is a standard requirement when tuning a PID controller – whether you tune manually or with the help of software.  And, either way, applying industry best-practices will save you significant time and money.

Read More