On the dynamics and control of a plasticating extruder

Abstract In recent years, there have been many papers published on the application of process control to plasticating extruders. Much of the literature concentrates on the more classical control techniques. However, recent research has studied the application of stochastic identification techniques for building transfer function models for the extruder. In particular, the relationship of screw speed to die pressure and temperature has been studied. In the present work, both step tests and pseudorandom binary sequence tests were used to study the process dynamics of a 38 mm Killion extruder having a Iength‐to‐diameter ratio of 24:1. This study concentrates on the regulation of the extruder pressure in the face of its inherent surging characteristics. Variations in the quality of the feed plastic were studied through pulse and step changes in input polymer composition. Significant control problems resulted from measurement noise, which appeared at the same frequency as the screw rotation speed. Various mathematical filters to reduce the effect of this noise on the control variables were studied.