Robust PI based set-point learning control for batch processes subject to time-varying uncertainties and load disturbance

Based on the proportional-integral (PI) closed-loop control widely used in industrial engineering practice, a robust iterative learning control (ILC) method is proposed for industrial batch processes subject to time-varying uncertainties and load disturbance. An important merit is that the proposed ILC design is independent of the PI tuning which maintains the closed-loop system stability, owing to that the ILC updating law is implemented through adjusting the set-point of the closed-loop system and adding a feedforward control signal to the plant input along the batch-to-batch direction. Using the robust H infinity control objective, a robust discrete-time PI tuning algorithm is given in terms of the plant state-space model description with norm-bounded time-varying uncertainties. For the batch-to-batch direction, a robust ILC updating law is developed based on the two-dimensional (2D) control system theory, which is capable of perfect output tracking against repetitive type load disturbance. An illustrative example from the literature is adopted to demonstrate the effectiveness and merits of the proposed ILC method.