Pole‐placement self‐tuning control of a fixed‐bed autothermal reactor. Part II: Multivariable control

Abstract

AbstractThe multiinput/multioutput pole‐placement self‐tuning controller (MIMO PPSTC) previously developed by McDermott and Mellichamp is used to control a fixed‐bed autothermal reactor with internal countercurrent heat exchange. The performance of the controller is demonstrated using step changes in the set points and in the primary disturbance variables. It is shown that the complete temperature profile can be maintained by controlling two temperatures in the catalyst bed: one just before the hot spot and the other at the exit of the bed. Simulated results using a 36th‐order nonlinear reactor model operating at both an open‐loop upper stable steady state and an open‐loop unstable steady state are presented. Experimental results for a fixed‐bed autothermal reactor operating at an upper stable state are presented.