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Basics of PID Control (Proportional+Integral+Derivative)
The PID features found in the control loops of todays controllers have enabled us to achieve much greater accuracy in our commercial
control systems at an attractive price compared to that available only a few years ago.
When setting up PID loop control, achieving proper operation can be difficult because of the complex setup parameters and the
need to understand the sequence of implementing them. Proper operating control may be defined as the ability to control a variable at
a given setpoint within an acceptable degree of accuracy. This is not an easy feat, because of the dynamics of a control system. If not
properly set up, abrupt changes in setpoint or system loading can cause system controls to oscillate or control with excessive error
between setpoint and actual control point.
The period of the loop (oscillation) is the time from peak to peak. All control loops have a tendency to oscillate because of the
built-in timing constants of the control system components and the dynamically changing variables such as setpoint shifts or load
changes. Typical period values encountered in control system loops would be in the range of 30 seconds to twenty minutes. All loops
can be made to oscillate by setting the throttling range too low (loop gain too high). Loop oscillation is undesirable in control systems
and is easily eliminated by increasing the proportional band of the loop.
Commonly referred to as the throttling range (TR), proportional band is defined as the amount of change in the controlled
variable required to drive the loop output from 0 to 100%. Systems subjected to abrupt changes in load or setpoint will typically
require a wider proportional band to achieve stability in control during these system upsets. Very quick system response times, such
as those found in static pressure control, will require much wider proportional bands to prevent overshoot, the most common cause of
oscillation. The gain of the loop is inversely proportional to the throttling range or proportional band. In general, decreasing the
throttling range will increase the amount of over shoot. Conversely, the larger the throttling range, the slower the loop will respond.
Gain is the ratio of output change (%) over the measured variable change (%) that caused it.

Where PB is the proportional band.
Example: If the PB is 20%, then the gain is 5. A 3% change in the error signal (setpoint- process variable) will result in a 15%
change in a controllers output, due to the proportional action. If gain is 2, then the PB is 50%.
A common characteristic of proportional control is an error between the setpoint and control point, which is referred to as offset or
droop. As the system load and/or proportional band increases, so does throttling range. For instance, with 10 degree throttling range
and 100% loop output, the actual control point will be offset 5 degrees from setpoint. Offset is an undesirable characteristic of
proportional only control loops and is easily eliminated by adding Integral Action.
The integral component of a control loop has the effect of continuing to increase or decrease the output as long as any offset
or droop continues to exist. This action drives the controller in the direction necessary to eliminate the error caused by the offset.
Integral, or reset, adjusts a controllers output in accordance with both the size of the deviation from setpoint and the time it lasts.
A controller accomplishes this correction by determining the amount of error that exists between the actual value of the controlled
variable and the value of the loop setpoint, then acting as though it were automatically resetting the setpoint by this error amount over a
specified time interval. Integral action is sometimes defined as repeats per minute of rest toward setpoint. The range or adjustment
is typically in the area of .01 to 2.0 repeats per minute. Integral works by causing the controller output to move in the direction of setpoint
by an amount equal to the difference between the loop output when setpoint is equal to control point (assume 50%) and the actual loop
output caused by offset.
Consider a loop that is at setpoint when its output is at 50%. If offset or error causes the loop output to be at 20% (a proportional
term of 30%), an integral value of one repeat per minute will change the loop output 30% per minute in a direction to bring the control
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point back to setpoint. Note the loop output change occurs in increments throughout the minute. (The size of these increments
depends on the controller.) If a loop block has an update time of five seconds, the 30% change resulting from integral action of one
repeat per minute will occur in 12 steps of approximately 2.5% each.
Remember that the systems dynamics will change with each increment of integral action. The loop may reach setpoint well
before the full 30% integral change is achieved. This is what the term repeats per minute relates to when used in the context of
integral action.
Derivative action adds the effect of the errors differential or rate of change. This means when an error changes by more than
a given percentage during a specified time period, a portion of the error is added to the calculated output to boost the output
response. Typically, using derivative action is effective only if the loop can respond to a surge in the output very quickly.
Derivative action observes how fast the actual condition approaches the desired condition and produces a control action based
on this rate. This additional action anticipates the convergence of actual and desired conditions. In effect, it counteracts the control
signal produced by the proportional and integral terms. The intended result is a reduction in overshoot.
As a general practice, the loop control we encounter in HVAC control does not require the use of derivative control. It is difficult to
determine exactly how to set it up; an improper setup can cause more harm than good. Derivative action is more commonly used in the
process control industry, which typically involves equipment with extremely rapid response times and large overshoots.
To review, proportional only controls cannot hold a process at the exact setpoint. A proportional offset is always present because
the control output is 0% at setpoint. Any load on the system will cause the control point to be offset from the setpoint. The greater the
load on the system, the further the control point will be offset from the setpoint and under maximum load, this error will approach the
throttling range. See Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Adding integration results in much less error than proportional only. See Figure 2.
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Figure 2.
On proportional plus integral controls, the amount of correction may become too large if the system load exceeds the capacity of
the equipment. When the actuated device (valve or damper) is fully open or closed, and the setpoint still cannot be reached, the
integration error continues to grow. The result is called integral windup. Properly sized equipment is extremely important to avoid
integral windup.
When properly set up, PID features in the control loops of todays controllers enable you to achieve high accuracy at a very
affordable price. The following guidelines will help you overcome the complexity of PID setup parameters to achieve proper operation.

Step 1. Before stabilizing the loop by increasing the throttling range (TR), measure the period of oscillation-the time (in
minutes) from one peak to the next (one complete cycle).

Step 2. Next, achieve loop stability using proportional control only. Do this by increasing the TR attribute value until the loop
control is stable with no oscillation, and then add an additional 10% to avoid future oscillation. Do not hesitate to
increase TR if necessary, because some loops, such as mixed air, may require a TR of 25 degrees or more to
achieve stability. If stability cannot be achieved by increasing the TR, the mechanical system installation and
design should be reviewed because the addition of integral and/or derivative action to an unstable control loop
can only cause further instability.

Step 3. Once stable loop operation is achieved using proportional only control, widen the TR attribute value by 20 to 30% in
preparation for adding integral.

Step 4. Use the following formula to calculate the integral value to be used. It will provide a good starting point for integral
action:

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Step 5. Monitor loop control to evaluate response. If response is slow with integral action, increase the I value slightly. It
may be necessary to upset the loop to get a good test of loop response. Changing the setpoint to simulate a
sudden change in load, then observing the time required to reach the new setpoint can do this. It is generally not
recommended to exceed 1.0 for integral, so it is better to start too small than too large. Experience shows that
numbers between 0.1 and 0.5 are usually effective in providing close control.

Step 6. Typically, the control loops used in the HVAC industry do not require derivative action. Derivative action is generally
not recommended because an improper derivative value will produce worse control than none at all. Experience
proves that proportional and integral control can achieve precision. If derivative is required, use the following
formula to determine the derivative value:


Many DDC systems offer an automatic self-tuning loop feature that eliminates the need to time the loop period, calculate the
proper integral value, and select the correct proportional band. While self-tuning loops appear to offer the ideal solution to achieving
good control and saving time, caution must be exercised when using the self-tuning loop feature, especially in more complex control
strategies.
For instance, the use of self-tuning loops in systems requiring the sequencing of two or more control valves and/or dampers can
inadvertently cause an overlap that turns on the heating and cooling at the same time. This can happen when the self-tuning loop
results in an excessively wide throttling range, effectively reducing or eliminating the amount of intended separation between the
heating and cooling devices. Another word of caution is never to use the self-tuning loop feature to tune a loop used to control two, two-
position heating or cooling devices in sequence. Such a control strategy is usually dependent on a specific throttling range value
necessary to obtain the desired sequencing results.
Self-tuning loops tend to ratchet PID parameters (throttling range, integral, and derivative) upward at a relatively quick rate in an
attempt to achieve stable operation. If any of these values overshoot for any reason, it will generally take much longer for the algorithm
to bring them back to more realistic values. When using the self-tuning loop feature, be sure to monitor system performance long
enough to be certain the entire control system operates properly and functions as a system. Once the self-tuning PID values have
stabilized and system operation has been monitored for proper and stable control, the self-tuning feature may be turned off to prevent
unexpected system disturbances from changing the PID parameters in the future.
The basic principles of PID control and self-tuning PID loops are the same among all DDC control systems. However, specific
details and algorithm design may vary from one manufacturer to the next.
PID control represents a significant advancement in the controls industry. It is a very effective technique for providing precise
control. Although PID control is a relatively complex feature, control engineers and technicians will find that well-designed products also
make it user friendly.
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It is important to understand what PID control can do for your operation and to learn how to set up an effective PID control
loop. While an improper setup is likely to result in unnecessary callbacks, a properly tuned PID control loop will deliver satisfaction.