What is the Purpose of a PID Controller’s Integral Term? Why is PI Control So Widely Used in Industry?

In the realm of process control it makes complete sense that the primary goal is – you guessed it – to control the process.  For decades the PID controller has proven a reliable tool for fulfilling that objective.  Even so, there are various forms of the controller that can be used and each has its unique performance attributes.  In spite of the added complexity associated with the Integral Term the PI controller is the form most widely used in industry.

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