CONTROL SYSTEM ENGINEERING

Block Diagram Reduction

Techniques
Prepared by,
A.Parimala Gandhi,
AP(SS)/ECE Department,
KIT/CBE
 Block diagram
A Block diagram is basically modelling of any simple or
complex system.
It Consists of multiple Blocks connected together to represent a system to explain
how it is functioning

Transfer Function: Ratio between transformation of output to the

transformation of input when all the initial conditions are zero.
R(s ) C (s )
G (s ) G(s)=C(s)/R(s)
Simple system:
Complex System: G4
R (s ) Y (s )
G1 G2 G3

H2
H1
 Need for block diagram reduction

• It is normally required to reduce multiple blocks

into single block or for convenient understanding it
may sometimes required to rearrange the blocks
from its original order.

• For the calculation of Transfer function its required

to be reduced.
Block Diagram Reduction techniques
1. Combining blocks which are in cascade or in parallel

G1 G2 G1G2

G1
G1 + G2
G2

2. Moving a summing point behind a block

G G
G
3. Moving a summing point ahead of a block

G G
1
G

4. Moving a pickoff point behind a block

G G
1
G

5. Moving a pickoff point ahead of a block

G G
G
6. Eliminating a feedback loop
G
G
1  GH
H

G
G
1 G

H =1

7. Swapping with two adjacent summing points

A B B A
 Example 1

Find the transfer function of the following

block diagrams

(a)
G4
R (s ) Y (s )
G1 G2 G3

H2

H1
 I
G4
R(s ) B A
Y (s )
G1 G2 G3
H2
H1 G2

Solution:

1. Apply the rule that Moving pickoff/takeoff point ahead of block

G2
2. Eliminate loop I & simplify as
B
G4 + G2G3
 G4
R(s )
GG4 +
B A G2 G3
Y (s )
G1 2 G 3

H2
H1G2

3. Moving pickoff point B behind block G4 + G2G3

II
R(s ) B C
Y (s )
G1 G4 + G2G3
H2
H1G2 1 /(G4 + G2G3 )
4. Eliminate loop III
R(s ) Y (s )
G1 GG4 4++GG2G2G3 3
C C

1 + H 2 (GH4 2+ G2G3 )
G2 H1
G4 + G2G3

Using rule 6
R(s ) G1 (G4 + G2G3 ) Y (s )
1 + G1G 2 H1 + H 2 (G4 + G2G3 )

Y (s) G1 (G4 + G2G3 )

T (s) = =
R ( s ) 1 + G1G 2 H1 + H 2 (G4 + G2G3 ) + G1 (G4 + G2G3 )
 (b)

R(s ) Y (s )
G1 G2

H1 H2

H3
Solution:
1. Eliminate loop I
R(s ) A
G2 I
B
Y (s )
G1 G2
H1
1 + GH2 H
2
2

H3
G2
2. Moving pickoff point A behind block 1 + G2 H 2
R(s ) A G2 B
Y (s )
G1
1 + G2 H 2

1 + G2 H 2 II
H1 1 + G2 H 2
G2 H 3 + H1 ( )
G2
H3 Not a feedback loop
3. Eliminate loop II
R(s ) G1G2 Y (s )
1 + G2 H 2

H1 (1 + G2 H 2 )
H3 +
G2

Using rule 6

Y (s) G1G2
T ( s) = =
R( s) 1 + G2 H 2 + G1G2 H 3 + G1 H1 + G1G2 H1 H 2
 (c)
H4
R(s ) Y (s )
G1 G2 G3 G4

H3

H2

H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G4

I
H4
R(s ) Y (s )
A B
G1 G2 G3 G4
H3 1
H3 G4 G4
H2 1
H2
G4 G4
H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G4

I
H4
R(s ) Y (s )
A B
G1 G2 G3 G4
H3 1
H3 G4 G4
H2 1
H2
G4 G4
H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G4

I
H4
R(s ) Y (s )
B
G1 G2 G3G4
H3 1
H3 G4 G4
H2 1
H2
G4 G4
H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G4

I

R(s ) Y (s )
G3G4 B
G1 G2 2
1 + G3G4 H 4
H3 1
H3 G4 G4
H2 1
H2
G4 G4
H1
2. Eliminate loop I and Simplify
R(s ) II Y (s )
G2G3G4 B
G1
1 + G3G4 H 4
H3
G4
H2
G4 III
H1

II feedback III Not feedback

G2G3G4 H 2 − G4 H1
1 + G3G4 H 4 + G2G3 H 3 G4
 3. Eliminate loop II & III

R(s ) G1G2G3G4 Y (s )
1 + G3G4 H 4 + G2G3 H 3

H 2 − G4 H1
G4

Using rule 6

Y ( s) G1G2G3G4
T ( s) = =
R( s) 1 + G2G3 H 3 + G3G4 H 4 + G1G2G3 H 2 − G1G2G3G4 H1
 (d)
H2

R(s ) A Y (s )
G1 G2 G3 B

H1

G4
Solution:
1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G3
I
H2

R(s ) A B Y (s )
G1 G2 G3
1
H1 G3
1
H1 G3
G4
2. Eliminate loop I & Simplify
H2

B
G2 G3 B G2G3

1 H1
+ H2
H1 G3 G3
II
R(s ) G2G3 Y (s )
G1
1 + G2 H1 + G2G3 H 2

H1
G3

G4
3. Eliminate loop II

R(s ) G1G2G3 Y (s )
1 + G2 H 1 + G2G3 H 2 + G1G2 H1

G4

Y (s) G1G2G3
T ( s) = = G4 +
R( s) 1 + G2 H1 + G2G3 H 2 + G1G2 H1
End