Real-Time Self-Tuning Speed Controller: Performance Comparison between Engine Fuelled with Palm Methyl Esters and Petroleum Diesel

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of a real-time self-tuning speed controller designed to track and regulate at various engine speeds. The controller was tested with an automotive engine fuelled with petroleum diesel and and palm oil biodiesel (Palm Methyl Esters) within speed range of 1800 rpm to 2400 rpm. A self-tuning control algorithm based on pole assignment method together with on-line model parameters estimation strategy based on the recursive least squares method are adopted. The ability of the controller to track, regulate at various engine speed and also to reject disturbances applied for both type of fuel are compared and presented. The results confirmed that the controller performed very satisfactorily.