CONTROL OF FLOW-OUT QUANTITY FROM HOPPER (1ST REPORT, APPLICATION OF LQ CONTROL).

In this paper we discuss the control of flow-out quantity of a known amount of granular material from a hopper. As the measuring apparatus of flow-out quantity, an impact type flowmeter made in our laboratory was used. For the control algorithm, the 'LQ Control' method is applied to our system. Initially, the effect of the hold up on the dynamic characteristics of the flow meter is investigated. Then the closed loop behavior of the system under parameter mismatching, and the modeling error between the plant and the observer model is examined. The following results were obtained: The dynamic characteristics of the hold up can be expressed by a first order lag element. By applying the 'LQ Control' to our system, good response waves for the step change of the set point and disturbance input were obtained.