Multivariable Tracking Control of a Bioethanol Process under Uncertainties

FERNÁNDEZ, M. CECILIA; PANTANO, M. NADIA; SERRANO, EMANUEL; SCAGLIA, GUSTAVO

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS IN ENGINEERING

HINDAWI PUBLISHING CORPORATION

Año: 2020 vol. 2020 p. 1 - 16

1024-123X

Bioethanol is one of the most studied alternative fuels nowadays. Due to its production process complexity and the low quality ofthe mathematical models that describe it, a reliable controller is needed to maximize the fuel production and minimize itsenvironmental impact, even in the presence of uncertainty. Here, a controller for tracking optimal profiles considering modelerrors and external perturbations is proposed. +is work is an improvement of a previously presented technique. To reduce theearlier mentioned uncertainties? effect during the fermentation, some tracking error integrators are added in the control actioncalculation. +is simple modification ensures the tracking error convergence to zero, even in the presence of uncertainties(demonstration available). Different tests are carried out and a performance comparison with the original controller is shown tohighlight improvements in the tracking error of up to 98% when integrators are incorporated. Furthermore, a classical PIcontroller is contrasted with the proposed techniques.