Temperature modelling and Model Predictive Control of a pilot-scale batch reaction system

The temperature control equipment on a pilot scale batch reaction system located at EAFIT University in Medell´ın, Colombia, is modeled and a new controller is designed aiming at using it in the reactor current PLC-based control system. Some mathematical models are developed from experimental data to describe the system behavior and using them several model based predictive controllers are designed. The simplest, yet reliable, model obtained is an ARX polynomial model of order (1,1,1) that yields a four states affine model for which an explicit MPC was calculated. This controller has a reduced mathematical complexity and can probably be used directly on the existing control system.Javier Sánchez is glad to thank IRI and specially Carlos Ocampo-Martínez for hosting and guiding this work, and to Santander Universidades for funding it through its Becas Iberoamérica Jóvenes Profesores e Investigadores 2013–2014 scholarship.Peer reviewe