Control of pH neutralization process using PLC-PID compact controller

Abstract

This study focuses on controlling the pH neutralization process in the Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) pre-treatment process. The pH value is one of the parameters that need to be followed based on Standards A and B of the Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluents) Regulations 2009, where it is needed to control between 5.5 and 9.0. The pH neutralization process is a nonlinear process that is difficult to control. The proposed method uses the built-in PID controller in Siemens TIA Portal software, which needs to be tuned to achieve the setpoint. On top of the tuning method, the experiment setup is also essential to ensure the effectiveness of the selected controller. The study uses a pH neutralization process plant with PLC Siemens S7-1200 as the controller. The performance of the PID controller is evaluated based on the rise time, settling time, and overshoot percentage. This study can provide the usage of the primary controller with an effective system as it improvises the built-in function of the PLC controller.