LP METHODS IN MPC OF LARGE-SCALE SYSTEMS - APPLICATION TO PAPER-MACHINE CD CONTROL

An application of a linear-programming based model-predictive control strategy to the paper-machine cross-direction (CD) control problem is presented. The objective of CD control is to maintain flat profiles of variables of interest by minimizing worst-case deviations from setpoi nts (defects). These control problems can have as many as 200 actuator s (inputs) and 400 sensor measurements (outputs). This large size coup led with the stringent real-time requirement of computing a control mo ve in a few seconds poses a very challenging control problem. The LP-b ased strategy is particularly well suited for solving such classes of control problems. This strategy has demonstrated its ability to solve large-scale control problems (over 100 inputs and 100 outputs) in real time and exhibits robustness to model uncertainty.