Explicit Parametric Controller for a Batch Polymerization System

MARIANO ASTEASUAIN; KONSTANTINOS KOURAMAS; VASSILIS SAKIZLIS; EFSTRATIOS N. PISTIKOPOULOS

Cincinnati

Congreso; 2005 AIChE Annual Meeting; 2005

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Control of batch polymerization reactors is a challenging task due to the non-linear and complex dynamics (heat transfer and fluid dynamics) and the varying operating conditions of these processes. Usually, the control objective in this type of systems is to ensure the tight tracking of a desired reactor temperature profile despite the possible perturbations of the nominal operating conditions. The problem has already been treated with the use of classical PID control or via dynamic optimization methods;  however, the research on process systems is steadily focusing on the exploitation of advanced control methods such as Model Predictive Control (MPC) that can guarantee optimal performance, constraint satisfaction and robustness (Morari and Lee, 1999). There are few works of MPC implementation for batch (polymerization) processes. However, the repeated computation of the MPC optimization problem is still a critical issue. Explicit parametric or ParOS controllers is a novel, well-established control method which has the ability to perform all the MPC computations off-line, thus reducing control action computations to simple function evaluations. At the same time, all other benefits of MPC are preserved. ParOS controllers have been recently applied to a number of control problems involving continuous processes, but never to a batch system. This work is focused on the design and evaluation of an explicit parametric controller for a batch polymerization  process. We aim at exploiting the properties of explicit parametric controllers and demonstrate the potential benefits of this control method in batch polymerization processes.This work is focused on the design and evaluation of an explicit parametric controller for a batch polymerization  process. We aim at exploiting the properties of explicit parametric controllers and demonstrate the potential benefits of this control method in batch polymerization processes.