H∞ control of descriptor systems: An example from binary distillation control

In this paper the Η∞ control problem for descriptor systems is considered. This problem can efficiently be solved by specialization of a recent solution of the general quadratic performance control problem to the H∞ case. The solution is given in terms of strict linear matrix inequality (LMI) conditions. Contrary to previous solutions of the descriptor H∞ control problem, these synthesis conditions easily can be evaluated by standard LMI solvers. The presented synthesis result is applied to a S/KS H∞ control problem from binary distillation control. The process model of the underlying separation process is given by means of a phenomenological descriptor model which describes the movement of concentration profiles in rectifying and stripping section of the distillation column.