Decoupling Control and Soft Sensor Design for an Experimental Platform

Abstract

This chapter presents the design and implementation of a decoupling control strategy for an experimental platform and pilot plant, dedicated to the study of the fouling phenomena which occur in industrial tubes. Initially, a set of tests was done for the identification and validation of FOPDT models suitable to the four processes of the multivariable system: flow-voltage, flow-current, pressure-voltage, and pressure-current. After, the interaction between the inputs and outputs of the system was analyzed by the RGA and RNGA matrices. The static decoupling and decentralized PID controllers tuned by the Ziegler-Nichols and IMC methods were designed. Then, the set point tracking response was simulated and implemented using MATLAB and LabVIEW software, respectively. Finally, the concept of soft sensor was applied to monitor the output variables of the experimental platform, for a better performance of the decoupling control.