Development of Hardware Simulator and Controller for Web Transport Process

Abstract

In this study a hardware simulator and controller for web transport process are developed. First the dynamics of web transport process is analyzed for simulator and controller design. An example Polypropylene transport process is investigated and its simplified transport model is derived. Then the web transport process simulator and its controller are developed. Accurate tension force control is needed to produce high quality web formed materials. The process controller uses the loadcell as a tension measuring device and closed-loop control is used for tension force regulation. The response of the system is tested under the disturbances in tension and the experimental results show that the system regulates tension disturbances properly.