Continuous sliding mode and PI controllers: Application to distillation column

In this work the authors report on the application of a continuous sliding mode controller (CSMC) and a classical Proportional - Integral (PI) controller to a distillation column. The controllers are applied to maintain constant the outlet product concentration, or a tray temperature, in the distillation column. As it is well known, the main characteristic of controllers based on the sliding mode control theory is their robustness to uncertainties. This characteristic makes the application of sliding mode controllers very useful to distillation columns, a chemical process with nonlinear dynamics and disturbance presence. Performance of controllers is based on output tracking reference and electric power consumption.