PID-Controlled IoT-Based Pyrolysis System for Palm Oil Biomass Waste Conversion and Real-Time Monitoring
Kathryn Deandrea (a), Muhammad Daffa Dzaky Hilmy (a), Muhammad Ismail Ghozali (a), Dandy Cahyo Purnomo (a), Eka Budiarto (b), Yunita Umniyati (c*), Sri Wahyuni (d)

(a) Mechatronics Engineering, Swiss German University
Jalur Sutera Barat No. 15, Alam Sutera, Tangerang 15134, Indonesia

(b) Master of Information Technology, Swiss German University
Jalur Sutera Barat No. 15, Alam Sutera, Tangerang 15134, Indonesia

(c) Master of Mechanical Engineering, Swiss German University
Jalur Sutera Barat No. 15, Alam Sutera, Tangerang 15134, Indonesia
*yunita.umniyati[at]sgu.ac.id

(d) Electrical Engineering, Trunojoyo University
Jalan Raya Telang PO. Box 2 Kamal, Bangkalan 69162, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia is the world^s largest producer of palm oil, generating a significant amount of biomass waste that poses environmental challenges while also offering potential as a renewable energy source. Pyrolysis technology provides an effective method for converting palm oil biomass waste into valuable products such as bio-oil, syngas, and biochar- however, conventional pyrolysis systems commonly rely on manual supervision and simple on/off temperature control methods that are unable to properly handle thermal lag and complex combustion reactions, leading to temperature overshoot, unstable operating conditions, reduced bio-oil yield, and safety risks. This research aims to design and develop an automated control and Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system for a palm oil waste pyrolysis reactor by integrating a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller for furnace and condenser temperature regulation with an ESP32-based IoT architecture for real-time remote monitoring. A simplified mathematical model and transfer function of the thermal system were developed to enable safer and more efficient PID parameter tuning using the root locus method prior to implementation on the physical reactor. The research methodology includes system modeling, controller design, embedded system integration, and experimental validation through automated pyrolysis testing, where process parameters such as temperature and pressure are continuously monitored and transmitted for real-time analysis. The developed system is expected to improve temperature stability, enhance operational safety, reduce manual intervention, and optimize the overall performance of sustainable biomass-to-energy conversion processes.

Keywords: Pyrolysis, Palm Oil Biomass Waste, PID Control, IoT Monitoring, Renewable Energy, ESP32

Topic: Energy and Environmental Physics