State Variable Feedback Control of Multiregion Reactors

This paper presents an approach to reactor control that is a result of modern control theory, and is based on the control philosophy of feeding back all the state variables through constant gain elements. The values of these elements or feedback coefficients depend upon the desired system dynamics which is specified in terms of the system transfer function. Through state variable feedback design, the desired system dynamics can be realized exactly. Simulation studies have shown that, for the models considered, the sensitivity of parameter variations with respect to system dynamics was relatively low. Since this method depends on feeding back all the system variables, it is particularly amenable to the control of multiregion reactors. With the recent emphasis on spatial kinetics, this method of reactor control is the logical next step. Consideration is given to the case when all the state or system variables are not available for measurement.