Optimum regulation of process systems with particular reference to an industrial boiler

The regulation of process systems which are represented by linear multi-variable time-invariant Laplace-transformed models is considered. Procedures which are based on the use of controller-generated functions are presented, enabling feedback control investigations to be made. Simple scalar-system frequency-domain design techniques are used, in conjunction with polynomial functions, to distort the characteristic equation-root locus to desirable areas of the complex plane. Commensurate with this constraint, a feedback strategy is presented which minimizes the control effort required, for arbitrary disturbance variations. A typical process system model is employed to illustrate the procedure. Thereafter, an industrial model of a boiler-furnace system is outlined, and an optimum minimum control effort regulator is derived.