Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol.191, 243-255, 2012
Observer-based output feedback linearizing control strategy for a nitrification-denitrification biofilter
The objective of the present work is to propose an output-feedback control scheme for a wastewater treatment biofilter, in order to regulate the outlet concentrations of nitrate and nitrite below a prescribed level (in accordance with the norms). The nitrification-denitrification biofilter is described by a set of mass balance partial differential equations (PDEs), of hyperbolic or parabolic type, depending on the consideration of diffusion/dispersion phenomena. The design of the output-feedback control strategy follows a late lumping approach, in which the PDE system is considered, and descretized only at a later stage for implementation purposes. This strategy is based on feedback linearization and requires a state estimator, which takes the form of a distributed parameter Luenberger observer. A point of particular attention is the formulation of the model boundary conditions, from the classical Dankwerts conditions to more advanced formulations including dynamic boundary conditions, which has a significant influence on the control performance. The control strategy is tested against model uncertainties and measurement noise in simulation. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Nitrification-denitrification biofilter;Distributed parameter systems;Hyperbolic PDE;Parabolic PDE;Linearizing control;Luenberger observer;Output feedback control