Design and Experimental Testing of a Control System for a Solid-Fertilizer-Dissolving Device Based on Fuzzy PID
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In this research article a closed-loop control system based on fuzzy proportion integration differentiation (PID) was designed and tested. This article could be accepted for publication after some minor corrections.
1) Major concern with novelty of this work.
2) There should be improvement in result section.
3) Conclusion part should be inline with the objectives of research work.
4) The abstract is not that much informative
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
It is my honor to review the manuscript “Design and experimental testing of a control system solid fertilizer dissolving device based on fuzzy PID”.
To overcome the problem of poor uniformity of solid fertilizer dissolving devices due to lag of fertilizer dissolution, a closed-loop control system based on fuzzy proportion integration differentiation (PID) was designed and tested. A fertilizer concentration regulation model was then established according to the results. In this system, the control core was made of STM32 used to feed back the fertilization concentration by detecting the electrical conductivity. For real time adjustment of the fertilizer flow rate and water flow rate, a fuzzy PID control algorithm was utilized to compare the detected concentration with the set concentration. Finally, the design and optimization of the device were verified by actual prototype test.
The manuscript is innovative, which combines the control algorithm with the fertigation device, and the effect is remarkable, device structure design - workflow design - system modeling - test to verify system performance steps are clear, strong logic; The research content of this manuscript has good guiding significance for the structure and control system optimization of fertigation device. However, the manuscript has the following contents that need to be modified:
1. The description of the test materials in the manuscript is too simple, so it is necessary to carefully explain the physical property parameters of fertilizer, such as the average particle size and saturated solubility, etc.
2. In the manuscript, the conclusion part and the discussion part are expounded separately, and the role of the research on the fertigation device and its control system is explained.
3. Please use appropriate font and size for letters and numbers in the figure. Please check all figures in the full text and make corrections.
4. Letters indicating locations and parameters should be italicized. Please check the full text and make corrections.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
This paper presents a fuzzy PID based control for solid fertilizer dissolving device. I have the following observations.
1. The problem with fuzzy PID control system is that you have to regularly update the rules of a fuzzy logic control system. How did teh authors handle that problem. An explanation on that is missing in the manuscript.
2. If your fertilizer does not mix properly can it be dissolved using a circulating pump ? What modifications need to be done in that case?
3. Figure 2, . Step motor drive control might be noisy in the operation. Is there any alternative to using a step motor?
4. For the fertilizer concentration detection, how is the amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) in the fertilizer estimated?
5. The AI based methods for the task may also be included in the manuscript.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
The required changes have been incorporated by the authors in the revised manuscript.
