Robust control for a multi-stage evaporation plant in the presence of uncertainties

A Multi Stage Flash evaporation plant is investigated as a partly unknown process represented by structured uncertainties concerning several model parameters. Robust control designs in form of H∞, loop-shaping and μ controllers are applied to the plant. The control objective has been obtained from previous work, where the optimal operating point has been shown to be in form of a reference liquid level profile throughout all the tanks of the plant. The incorporation of uncertainties and the controller into the generalized plant is done via Linear Fractional Transformations. The nominal as well as robust stability and performance are investigated for the controllers.