An experimental study on parameter identification and robust control of a heating-cooling loop: A revised solution

Abstract

This contribution concisely presents an overview of the laboratory experimental research results when identifying a model and controlling a laboratory heating-cooling loop in a classical robust sense. Revision and extension of previous results are focused. The process in question, albeit simple enough, is characterized by long dead times and internal delays, giving rise to the infinite-dimensional nature of its model. This feature makes related parameter identification and control tasks nontrivial. Moreover, the essential goal is to verify whether a model identified also considering model uncertainties gives better control responses than that for the nominal case. An output algebraic control design satisfying robust stability and robust performance is used. A comparison of the proposed results against previous ones is also provided.