Fractional order control for unstable first order processes with time delays

Unstable first order time delay systems are frequently encountered in industrial applications, such as chemical plants, hydraulic processes, in satellite communications or economic systems, to name just a few. The control of such processes is a challenging issue. In this paper a filtered Smith Predictor control structure is used to compensate for the process time delays and to ensure the stability of the overall closed loop system. A simplified type of a fractional order PI controller is then designed to meet zero steady state error and an overshoot requirement. The tuning is based on the root locus analysis of the closed loop fractional order system. Simulation examples are provided to validate the proposed method and to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed control method. Comparisons with two existing methods are included to highlight the possibility of using the proposed method as an alternative solution for controlling these types of processes.