Optimal gain scheduled controller for a two funnel liquid tanks in series

Abstract

Motivated by the control complexity of nonlinear systems, we introduce an optimal gain scheduled controller for a nonlinear system of two funnel liquid tanks in series, based on a linearization of a nonlinear state equation of the system about selected operating points. Specifically, the proposed technique aims at extending the region of validity of linearization by introducing a parametrized linear model, which enables to construct a feedback controller at each point. Additionally, we present an integral control approach which ensures robust regulation under all parameter perturbations. The parameters of resulting family of feedback controllers are scheduled as functions of reference variables, resulting in a single optimal controller. Nonlocal performance of the gain scheduled controller for the nonlinear model has been checked by mathematical simulation. © ECMS Thorsten Claus, Frank Herrmann, Michael Manitz, Oliver Rose (Editors).