What can cause oscillations in a control system?

Improper tuning of PID parameters is a primary cause of oscillations in a control system because the PID controller's role is to maintain the desired output by minimizing the error between the setpoint and the process variable. If the proportional, integral, and derivative gains are not properly adjusted, the controller may either respond too aggressively or be too sluggish, leading to overshoot and oscillations around the setpoint. Proper tuning ensures that the system responds optimally to changes without excessive fluctuations, thereby maintaining stability.

In contrast, while excessive flow rate, high ambient temperature, and inadequate power supply can influence system performance, they are less direct causes of oscillations than misconfigured PID settings. Excessive flow rates might affect system dynamics or lead to instability, but the primary contributor to oscillations in control behavior is the tuning of the PID controller itself. High ambient temperature can impact sensitivity and performance, and an inadequate power supply can lead to erratic behavior, but they do not typically create sustained oscillations in the same way as improper PID tuning does.