A system control apparatus includes a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller configured to control a behavior of a system and having a gain, and a gain determiner configured to apply, to a set adaptive load model, a variable associated with an error that varies based on a load change of the system and adaptively vary the gain using the adaptive load model to which the variable associated with the error is applied.

A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device includes: a power supply configured to supply power to a heater configured to heat an aerosol source; a receptacle configured to receive power for charging the power supply from a plug connected to an external power supply; a charger configured to control charging of the power supply by power received by the receptacle; and a controller. The receptacle and the power supply are connected in parallel with the charger, and the charger is configured to supply power from the receptacle and the power supply to the controller via the charger.

According to the disclosure, a position of a main control valve and a position of an auxiliary control valve are adjusted. In particular, a position of the auxiliary control valve is adjusted by determining whether a change in the position of the main control valve is in a preset deadband range, thereby preventing a periodic water level fluctuation of a steam generator.

A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device includes: a power supply configured to supply power to a heater configured to heat an aerosol source; a receptacle configured to receive power for charging the power supply from a plug connected to an external power supply; a charger configured to control charging of the power supply by power received by the receptacle; and a controller. The receptacle and the power supply are connected in parallel with the charger, and the charger is configured to supply power from the receptacle and the power supply to the controller via the charger.

An approach for auto tuning a PID controller that may incorporate determining set-points for controlled variables, obtaining controlled variables from a controlled process module, taking a difference between the set-points and the controlled variable as inputs to a proportional, integral and derivative (PID) controller, calculating a loss or reward from the difference between the controlled variables and the set-points, and achieving set-point tracking. The loss or reward needs to be an increasing or decreasing function of a control error value. Also incorporated may be adding loss or reward components based on controlled variables time difference or control action time difference, which may effect a self-tuned performance of the PID controller.

A DC/DC converter system includes a bidirectional DC/DC converter converting between voltage levels at first and second ports and a control system for controlling the DC/DC converter. The bidirectional DC/DC converter includes a first conversion stage connected to the first port and a second conversion stage interfaced with the first conversion stage and connected to the second port. The control system includes outer and inner control loops. The outer control loop compares a command for one of a voltage level, a current level or power at one of the first and second ports to an actual value of voltage level, current level or power level and outputs an interface current command based on the comparison. The inner control loop compares the interface current command to an actual interface current at an interface of the first and second conversion stages, and controls a switching signal duty value based on the comparison.

An approach for auto tuning a PID controller that may incorporate determining set-points for controlled variables, obtaining controlled variables from a controlled process module, taking a difference between the set-points and the controlled variable as inputs to a proportional, integral and derivative (PID) controller, calculating a loss or reward from the difference between the controlled variables and the set-points, and achieving set-point tracking. The loss or reward needs to be an increasing or decreasing function of a control error value. Also incorporated may be adding loss or reward components based on controlled variables time difference or control action time difference, which may effect a self-tuned performance of the PID controller.

A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device includes: a power supply configured to supply power to a heater configured to heat an aerosol source; a receptacle configured to receive power for charging the power supply from a plug connected to an external power supply; a charger configured to control charging of the power supply by power received by the receptacle; and a controller. The receptacle and the power supply are connected in parallel with the charger, and the charger is configured to supply power from the receptacle and the power supply to the controller via the charger.

A biomass torrefaction system includes a reactor vessel for biomass particles, a burner for combusting one or more fuels to produce a heated gas, a fan for supplying a flow of the heated gas through the reactor vessel to heat the biomass particles, and a controller configured to calculate a torrefaction index according to one or more sensed parameters of the system. The sensed parameter(s) include at least one of a reactor vessel retention time, a reactor vessel temperature difference and a higher heating value (HHV) of a syngas output by the reactor vessel. The controller is also configured to automatically adjust one or more operation values of the system according to the calculated torrefaction index. The operation value(s) include at least one of the reactor vessel retention time, a heating rate of the system, and a mixture of the one or more fuels combusted by the burner.

A DC/DC converter system includes a bidirectional DC/DC converter converting between voltage levels at first and second ports and a control system for controlling the DC/DC converter. The bidirectional DC/DC converter includes a first conversion stage connected to the first port and a second conversion stage interfaced with the first conversion stage and connected to the second port. The control system includes outer arid inner control loops. The outer control loop compares a command for one of a voltage level, a current level or power at one of the first and second ports to an actual value of voltage level, current level or power level and outputs an interface current command based on the comparison. The inner control loop compares the interface current command to an actual interface current at an interface of the first and second conversion stages, and controls a switching signal duty value based on the comparison.