Generalized eigenvalue minimization used in robust temperature control design for air-handling units

This paper addresses the robust control of air-handling unit. Air-handling unit is a core component in a central air-conditioning system, and its dynamics are characterised by nonlinearity, uncertainty and constraint. A first-order plus time-delay model with uncertain parameters is used to describe the dynamic input-output relationship. Based on this model, a robust control design based on the generalized eigenvalue minimization (GEM) technique is successfully applied to deal with the associated nonlinearity, uncertainty and constraint. Simulation study shows that the proposed method is able to improve the robustness of the closed-loop AHU operation.