Derivative adaptive predictive control for a tempering process

The modelling threshold problem made hard the adaptive predictive (AP/ADEX) controllers implementation in processes that, due to their dynamics behaviour, require a control period below a certain value. However, a new concept named 'guidance system for derivative control' (GS), originally developed for the aerospace sector, and overcomes this problem. This paper presents the first industrial application from this new concept, applied to an illustrative industrial tempering process, characterised by a multivariable, highly nonlinear and time-varying dynamics. Thus, the new design is based on adaptive predictive expert (ADEX) control, and extended with a new concept, the guidance block, required to overcome the ADEX methodology restrictions when it has to be applied with reduced control periods in order to deal satisfactorily with high disturbances and nonlinear dynamics. This paper also presents a comparison between the new control system and the conventional control system (LCS), previously implemented in this industry and based on PID methodology, showing the benefits of implementing the new system.