Disturbance Observer-Based Integral Backstepping Control for a Two-Tank Liquid Level System Subject to External Disturbances

Abstract

A novel method of disturbance observer-based integral backstepping control is proposed for the two-tank liquid level system with external disturbances. The problem of external disturbances can be settled in this paper. Firstly, the mathematical model of the two-tank liquid level system is established based on fluid mechanics and principle of mass conservation. Secondly, an integral backstepping control strategy is designed in order to ensure liquid level tracking performance by making the tracking errors converge to zero in finite time. Thirdly, a disturbance observer is designed for the two-tank liquid level system with external disturbances. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified by simulation and experiment. By doing so, the simulation and experimental results prove that the scheme of disturbance observer-based integral backstepping control strategy can suppress external disturbances more effective than the disturbance observer-based sliding mode control method and has better dynamic and steady performance of the two-tank liquid level system.