Performance comparison of different control strategies for heat exchanger networks

In this article, the dynamic responses of heat exchanger networks to disturbance and setpoint change were studied. Various control strategies, including: proportional integral, model predictive control, passivity approach, and passivity-based model predictive control were used to monitor all outlet temperatures. The performance of controllers was analyzed through two procedures: 1) inducing a ±5% step disturbance in the supply temperature, or 2) tracking a ±5°C target temperature. The performance criteria used to evaluate these various control modes was settling time and percentage overshoot. According to the results, the passivity-based model predictive controllers produced the best performance to reject the disturbance and the model predictive control proved to be the best controller to track the setpoint. Whereas, the ensuing performance results of both the PI and passivity controllers were discovered to be only acceptable.