Improved transient performance in multidrive machines by using intersectional control

This paper presents the results obtained with a PLC implementation of an intersectional control operating as an external loop in the sectional drives of a multidrive system. The proposed architecture allows use of the existing hardware incorporated in actual drives, eventually adding extra memory capacity. Three control algorithms implemented in the PLC were experimentally evaluated in a four-section experimental equipment, combined with a hybrid drive simulator experimental system. Moderate and high inertia conditions were imposed in the disturbed section. With moderate inertia the maximum angular deviation was reduced to about 60-65 % of the value without intersectional control. With high inertia, using a speed difference PI-control algorithm, the maximum angular deviation Δθ_max was reduced to 9.9 %