Inferential MIMO predictive control of the particle size distribution in emulsion polymerization

A new inferential 2-step multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) model predictive control (MPC) of the particle size distribution (PSD) in emulsion polymerization processes is proposed. The bulk-like model describing the PSD is used with the material balances of initiator, radicals, monomer and surfactant. The inferential 2-step control strategy uses two measurements available online (without delay): the concentration of surfactant in the aqueous phase by conductimetry, and the concentration of monomer by calorimetry. In a first step, the optimal trajectory of surfactant concentration leading to the target PSD is calculated offline. In a second step, a multivariable model predictive control manipulates online the monomer and surfactant flow rates in order to track the precalculated surfactant concentration trajectory and to maximise the monomer concentration in the polymer particles in a constrained set-point tracking. Two control strategies are compared (nonlinear MPC and linearized MPC) with and without modelling errors.

► It is a new MIMO MPC of the particle size distribution in emulsion polymerization. ► The inferential 2-step model based control strategy uses two online measurements. ► A detailed fundamental PDE model is used in both steps. ► First step: from the target PSD, an optimal time trajectory is computed offline. ► Second step: a constrained MPC tunes online the monomer and surfactant flow rates.