Nonlinear control of a batch ester-interchange reactor

Abstract

Nonlinear control algorithms using feedback input-output linearization and sliding mode control are applied to a lab-scale batch ester-interchange reaction system. Batch ester-interchange reaction requires no overshoot of reaction temperature in earlier stage of reaction and tight temperature control throughout the reaction to keep uniform quality of the final product and to prevent variation of the amount of the byproduct such as diethylene glycol at each batch. Through experimentation we find that the nonlinear controller of input-output linearization algorithm shows better control performance both at setpoint tracking and disturbance rejection than the conventional PTD controller. Further, sliding mode control algorithm is supplemented and simulated to show that it improves robustness against plant-model mismatch.