Method for Proportional-Integral Controller Tuning Assessment

In this paper, a method for the performance assessment of proportional-integral (PI) controllers for single-input single-output (SISO) self -regulating processes is proposed. In particular, the effectiveness of the tuning of the controller with respect to its load disturbance rejection performance is determined by evaluating simultaneously different simple indexes that are calculated by considering only the manipulated variable and process output signals when an abrupt load disturbance occurs on the process. Thus, no model of the process is required. As a result, guidelines on how to improve the controller tuning are given. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the value of the method in a process monitoring framework.