Title: Nonlinear multivariable tracking control: application to an ethanol process

Authors: Maria Cecilia Fernández; María Nadia Pantano; Ricardo Antonio F. Machado; Oscar Alberto Ortiz; Gustavo J.E. Scaglia

Addresses: Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), CONICET, Av. Lib. San Martín Oeste 1109, San Juan J5400ARL, Argentina ' Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), CONICET, Av. Lib. San Martín Oeste 1109, San Juan J5400ARL, Argentina ' Departamento de Engenharia Química e de Alimentos/CTC/Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, C.P. 476, CEP 88010-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil ' Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), CONICET, Av. Lib. San Martín Oeste 1109, San Juan J5400ARL, Argentina ' Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), CONICET, Av. Lib. San Martín Oeste 1109, San Juan J5400ARL, Argentina

Abstract: In this paper, a controller based on linear algebra for a fed-batch ethanol production process is proposed. It involves finding feed rate profiles (control actions obtained as a linear equations system solution) in order to make the system follow predefined concentration profiles. A Monte Carlo experiment is used for controller tuning. Moreover, several tests (adding parametric uncertainty, perturbations in the control action and in the initial conditions) are carried out so as to evaluate the controller performance. A comparison with other controller is made and the demonstration of the error convergence is included.

Keywords: fed-batch bioprocess; ethanol production; nonlinear model control; profile tracking control; numeric methods/linear algebra.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAC.2019.100470

International Journal of Automation and Control, 2019 Vol.13 No.4, pp.440 - 468

Received: 12 Apr 2017
Accepted: 30 Dec 2017
Published online: 29 Jun 2019 *

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