Control Systems

Basic Features of Cascade Control

A cascade control system typically consists of a primary or master controller that generates a control function that serves as the setpoint for a secondary or slave controller. That controller in turn utilizes the actuator to apply its control function directly to the secondary process. The secondary process then generates a secondary process variable that serves as the control function for the primary process.

An illustration of a cascade control is shown below:

Cascade Control
Fig: Cascade Control

From the figure above, it is clear that the outer loop controller (primary controller) becomes the setpoint for the inner controller (secondary controller). The inner loop actually functions like a conventional feedback control system with a setpoint, a process variable, and a controller acting on a process by means of an actuator. The outer loop does a similar task except that it uses the entire inner loop as its actuator.

John Mulindi

John Mulindi is an Industrial Instrumentation and Control Professional with a wide range of experience in electrical and electronics, process measurement, control systems and automation. In free time he spends time reading, taking adventure walks and watching football.

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