Non-linear model predictive control of conically shaped liquid storage tanks

This paper deals with the analysis and design of a model predictive control (MPC) strategy used in connection with level control in conically shaped industrial liquid storage tanks. The MPC is based on a non-linear dynamic model describing changes of the liquid level concerning changes in the inlet flow of the liquid. Euler discretization of the dynamic system was applied to transform con-tinuous time dynamics to its discrete-time counterpart used in non-linear MPC (NMPC) design. By means of a simulation case study, NMPC has been shown to track the changes of the liquid level, hence provides increased control performance. This paper also compares the traditional approach of optimal control, linear MPC, with the NMPC strategy.