DSP based implementation of piecewise linear control scheme for wide air-gap control of an electromagnetic levitation system

Electromagnetic levitation system (EMLS) is inherently unstable and strongly non-linear in nature. In majority cases the closed loop system has been stabilized by classical controller utilizing linearlized model of EMLS. The linear classical controller has a restricted zone of operation. But it is essential to design a control scheme so that EMLS can operate for a large air-gap stably and at the same time the performance of controller will be satisfactory irrespective of any change in operating air-gap. This paper reports design, implementation and testing of piecewise linear control schemes to extend the range of operating air-gap for a voltage controlled (EMLS) in real time environment through dSPACE.