Effects of manufacturing conditions, stresses, temperature and humidity on the performance of an innovative fractional order control device

by Kulkarni, Nachiket Ashok.

An innovative fractional order control device (Fractor) has been developed. The principal characteristic of the Fractor is a non-integer order power law relationship between the impedance and frequency. The exponent or the order in this power law is the Constant Phase Element (CPE). Warburg impedance is the ideal goal for the optimal performance of the Fractor which is intended for applications in feedback control systems. The Fractor is based on a specially developed material system which involves a synthesized polymer gel interfaced with metal electrodes. The roughness of the electrode is inversely correlated to the CPE. The main objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Fractor depending on the manufacturing, loading and environmental conditions over a wide range of frequencies from 20 Hz to 500 kHz. A consistent experimental study has been performed to investigate the performance and response characteristics of the Fractor. Various material compositions of the Fractor have been investigated. The study has been performed for a wide range of parameters, including pressure, temperature, and humidity. The results of this investigation provide important information and guidelines for optimizing the performance and properties of the Fractor for feedback control of mechanical and electrical systems. 1