The direct digital control of a dynamic adiabatic calorimeter

This work sets forth a procedure used to place a dynamic adiabatic calorimeter under direct digital control. This process is inherently non-linear and multivariable as typical of many industrial processes. ,The process was placed under control by developing a detailed model of the process on both a theoretical and experimental basis. This model was then used to design a control strategy, select controllers to implement that strategy, and tune the controller algorithms. The process non-linearities were controlled by changing controller tuning parameters based upon operating conditions. The multivariable interactions were not of sufficient strength to warrant special consideration in the final control strategy.

This direct digital control strategy was then used to determine the heat capacity of titanium from 320 to l020k within ± 1.0% accuracy over the entire temperature range.