Simulation validation of the model-based control of the plate heat exchanger with on-line compensation for modelling inaccuracies

This paper describes the stage of initial validation of the model-based control of the plate heat exchanger (PHE) by simulation. For the distributed parameter model of PHE validated on the basis of the measurement data collected from the real process, the approximation by the orthogonal collocation method is applied and then the linearizing controller with the on-line compensation for the potential modelling inaccuracies is suggested. This approach ensures relatively low computational complexity due to the low dimension of the approximating dynamical model, which allows for its practical implementation in the programmable logic controllers. The suggested controller is tested by simulation under the realistic experiments scenario and it shows its superiority and robustness over the conventional PI controller, for both tracking and disturbances rejection. The results show that the suggested concept can be considered as an interesting model-based alternative for the PID-based control systems that are still widely applied in the industrial practice.