This work explores the design of distributed model predictive
control
(DMPC) systems using Gaussian process (GP) models to predict the nonlinear
dynamic behavior for nonlinear processes with unknown dynamics. Specifically,
the DMPC is designed and analyzed concerning closed-loop stability
and performance properties based on the Lyapunov techniques. First,
the GP model used in the DMPC is developed and updated in a distributed
manner where each subsystem only considers its physically interacted
states except its own states to get a sufficiently accurate model
with a relatively smaller data set and achieve efficient real-time
computation time. Then, a Lyapunov constraint, which is related to
the model mismatch quantified by the GP model, is developed to guarantee
the stability of the proposed DMPC system at a given confidence level.
Meanwhile, a mechanism for triggering the update of the GP’s
data set and the Lyapunov constraint is proposed that keeps the recursive
feasibility of the DMPC system and the improvement of the steady-state
performance. Finally, using an ethylbenzene production process as
an example, the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of
the proposed DMPC system.