Real-time application of discrete second order sliding mode control to a chemical reactor

Temperature control of processes that involve heating and cooling of semi-batch reactors can be a real problem for conventional controllers that do not put up with relatively large model uncertainty and external disturbances. The first order sliding mode control can be a solution for this problem; however, discrete-time implementation generates the chattering phenomenon. In order to reduce it, a second order discrete sliding mode control (2-DSMC) approach is proposed in this paper and used for the temperature control of a chemical reactor. As shown by the experimental results, this control law resolves the chattering problem while ensuring good robustness of the closed loop system behavior.