Robust iterative learning control of an exothermic semi-batch chemical reactor

This work focuses on the temperature control of a semi-batch chemical react or used for flue chemicals production. Such reactor is equipped with a heat ing/cooling system composed of different thermal fluids. In order to ensure the tracking performance of the desired temperature profile, an iterative learning control (ILC) named batch model predictive control (BMPC) has been adopted. The synthesis of the considered strategy is illustrated, and impr ovements of the algorithm scheme are proposed. Firstly, a guaranteed conver gence of the algorithm is illustrated. Secondly, in presence of high freque ncy disturbance effects, an off-line filtering is adopted for enhancing the achieved performances. Third, a robust supervisory control procedure is em ployed to choose the right fluid and to reduce the superfluous fluid change overs, mainly where fluids are of different nature. Finally, the incidence of repetitive disturbances, on line low frequency disturbances and model mi smatch are investigated through simulation runs. (C) 2001 IMACS. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.