Optimal Control Theory Applied to Pressure-Controlled Axial Piston Pump Design

Abstract

This work presents a study of the applicability of optimal control theory to the design of a pressure regulator by use of an axial piston pump with a two-stage electrohydraulic servovalve. The control valve has been modeled and an optimal control law has been formulated. The time response curves due to a step input in flow rate to the pump have been obtained for the open loop and the for the optimal control system. An examination of the results has shown that the performance, in terms of pressure peaks and frequency during recovery to the flow disturbance, is significantly improved over that obtained when a single-stage valve is used.