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Multivariable nonlinear control of a continuous polymerization reactor: An experimental study
Author(s) -
Soroush Masoud,
Kravaris Costas
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690391204
Subject(s) - control theory (sociology) , multivariable calculus , polymerization , nonlinear system , temperature control , controller (irrigation) , work (physics) , continuous stirred tank reactor , monomer , observer (physics) , nonlinear control , materials science , chemistry , computer science , control engineering , chemical engineering , engineering , control (management) , polymer , organic chemistry , mechanical engineering , physics , agronomy , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , biology
This experimental work concerns the multivariable nonlinear control of a continuous stirred‐tank polymerization reactor. The globally linearizing control (GLC) method is implemented to control conversion and temperature in the reactor in which the solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate takes place. Control of conversion and temperature is achieved by manipulating the flow rate of an inlet initiator stream and two coordinated heat input variables. Conversion is inferred from on‐line measurements of density and temperature. A reduced‐order state observer is utilized to estimate the concentrations of monomer, initiator and solvent in the reactor. The concentration estimates are used in the control law. This study demonstrates the considerable computational efficiency of the nonlinear controller, which is implemented on a microcomputer. The experimental results show the excellent performance of the controller in the presence of active state and input constraints. A systematic approach is also given for the synthesis of output feedback controllers within the GLC framework for processes with secondary outputs.