An interval type-3 fuzzy PID control system design and its application in solid oxide fuel cells power plant

Compared with type-2 fuzzy sets, the secondary membership degree of interval type-3 fuzzy sets is an interval rather than crisp value, which makes interval type-3 fuzzy sets can obtain more degree of freedoms. This article studies an interval type-3 fuzzy PID controller based on interval type-3 fuzz sets. The framework of interval type-3 fuzzy PID controller is identical with type-2 fuzzy PID controller, but it contains more adjustment controller parameters and its type reduction procedure is more complex. In this paper, type reduction of interval type-3 fuzzy sets is derived from general type-2 fuzzy sets represented by alpha-plane and a direct NT type reduction algorithm is applied. The control effects of interval type-3 fuzzy PID controller are firstly tested by 2 nonlinear plants, the simulation results show that interval type-3 fuzzy PID controller has better control performance indexes than PID controller, type-1 fuzzy PID controller, interval type-2 fuzzy PID controller and general type-2 fuzzy PID controller. Furthermore, the interval type-3 fuzzy PID controller will be applied in rated voltage control of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) power plant. The output voltage control of SOFC is quite challenging because of the strong nonlinearity, limited fuel flow, and rapid variation of the load disturbance. The simulation results demonstrate the advantages and robustness of proposed interval type-3 fuzzy PID controller.