IRI - Design of optimization-based controllers applied to an ethanol steam reformer for hydrogen production

Publication

Design of optimization-based controllers applied to an ethanol steam reformer for hydrogen production

Journal Article (2012)

Journal

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Pages

11141-11156

Volume

Number

Doc link

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.04.117

File

Download the digital copy of the doc pdf document

Authors

Projects associated

DISCPICO: Design and implementation of control systems for PEM fuel cells and their integration into distributed electrical power generation systems
MESPEM: Desarrollo de sistemas de control para la mejora de la eficiencia y la vida útil en sistemas basados en pilas de combustible PEM

Abstract

This paper focuses on the control of a low-temperature ethanol steam reformer for in-situ hydrogen production. For this purpose, three optimization-based control configurations are proposed, namely, a linear model-based predictive controller, a linear quadratic regulator with output error integral action and a cascade control combining the two previous configurations. In all cases, control objectives aim at obtaining the desired flow of hydrogen while keeping the carbon monoxide at its nominal working point under input and output operational constraints. Output tracking and robustness of each configuration are compared using two key performance indicators that evaluate the output errors and the smoothness of the control signals. Simulation results allow to compare the characteristics of each control configuration when applied to the non-linear model of the ethanol steam reformer.

Author keywords

model predictive control, ethanol reformers, industrial applications, LQR/LQG

Scientific reference

D. Recio, C. Ocampo-Martínez and M. Serra. Design of optimization-based controllers applied to an ethanol steam reformer for hydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 37(15): 11141-11156, 2012.