regulierer

Regulierer is a term used in German-speaking contexts to denote a regulator, a device or algorithm that maintains a controlled variable at a predetermined reference value. In control theory, a regulator forms part of a feedback control loop. The key elements are a sensor that measures the process variable, a reference or setpoint, a controller that computes a corrective signal, and an actuator that applies the adjustment to the system. The goal is to minimize deviations caused by disturbances and model uncertainties, achieving stable operation within tolerance bands.

Regulierer can be implemented in various forms. Electronic regulators include voltage regulators and current regulators used in power supplies and electronics; temperature regulators such as thermostats; and speed regulators in engines and drive systems. Mechanical regulators can control gas, liquid, or pneumatic flow, pressure, or other physical quantities, often via calibrated springs, diaphragms, or servo mechanisms. In electrical engineering, common control laws include proportional, proportional-integral, and derivative actions (PID), sometimes with feedforward elements.

Applications span consumer electronics, automotive charging systems (voltage regulation by alternators and regulators), industrial process control, HVAC, and laboratory instrumentation. Performance characteristics include accuracy, response time, stability, robustness to disturbances, and energy efficiency. The term may also be used more broadly to describe software algorithms that regulate system behavior, such as process control in automation software.