Multirate Predictive Control with Nonlinear Optimization Application to a Thermal Process for Batch Dyeing

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new approach to multirate predictive control with a multiple reference model in order to control commercial processes with nonlinear models, such as batch dyeing thermal processes. The time delay problem is resolved successfully by using multirate predictive control, and we introduce nonlinear optimization based on an augmented Lagrangien objective function to minimize the multirate predictive control quadratic criterion in the case of the nonlinear plant model. Moreover, the multirate approach improves predictive control robustness. The results of our study are used to simulate nonlinear thermal plant control with very good results. For this reason, our future work will use this method to control a batch dyeing process.