AN ADAPTIVE POLE PLACEMENT CONTROLLER FOR CHEMICAL PROCESSES WITH VARIABLE DEAD TIME

A pole placement adaptive controller/dead-time compensator for multiple-input, multiple-output systems with unknown or variable dead time is presented. The algorithm does not require an explicit estimate of the dead time and is suitable for nonminimum-phase processes. Parameter estimation for the control algorithm is performed with a recursive least squares algorithm. Sensitivity to model errors is maintained by covariance resetting rather than a forgetting factor. Experimental application of the single-loop adaptive controller on a pilot scale heat exchanger temperature control loop has demonstrated improved performance over a PI controller. Simulation results for a two-input-two-output distillation column are also described.