Control of Dead-time Processes

This text introduces the fundamental techniques for controlling dead-time processes from simple monovariable to complex multivariable cases. Dead-time-process-control problems are studied using classical proportional-integral-differential (PID) control for the simpler examples and dead-time-compensator (DTC) and model predictive control (MPC) methods for progressively more complex ones. Downloadable MATLAB® code makes the examples and ideas more convenient and simpler.

Prof. Julio E. Normey-Rico is with the Automation and Systems Department of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He has been teaching Linear Systems and Classical Control in the Electrical and Automation and Control undergraduate courses since 1990. Since that date, he has also taught Multivariable Process Control and Digital Control in the MSc Program. Since 2000 he has taught Predictive Control and Dead-time System Control in the PhD program of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He has been a visiting professor for the PhD programs of the Universities of Seville, Carlos III de Madrid and Seville in Spain. He has authored and co-authored more than a 60 technical papers in international journals and conference proceedings. He has carried out review work for various conferences and technical journals. His main areas of research are process control, dead-time processes and industrial applications.

Professor Eduardo F. Camacho is Professor of the Department of System Engineering and Automatic Control at the University of Seville. His previous publications include the books: Model Predictive Control in the Process Industry (1995), Advanced Control of Solar Plants (1997) and Model Predictive Control (1999 and 2/e 20004) all published by Springer and Control e Instrumentación de Procesos Quimicos published by Ed. Sintesis. He has authored and co-authored more than a 150 technical papers in international journals and conference proceedings.

Eduardo Camacho has served on various IFAC technical committees and was a member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE/CSS appointed by the president for 2001. He served as Chair of the IFAC Publication Committee from 2002-2005. At present he is the chair of the IEEE/CSS International Affairs Committee, Chair of the IFAC Policy Committee and President of the European Control Association He has carried out review and editorial work for various conferences and technical journals. At present he is one of the editors of the IFAC journal, Control Engineering Practice, and an associate editor of the European Journal of Control. He was Publication Chair for the IFAC World Congress in Barcelona in 2002 and the General Chair of the joint Conference on Decision and Control /European Control Conference (CDC/ECC) in December 2005.

Professor Camacho has acted as evaluator of projects at national and European level. He was appointed for four years Manager of the Advanced Production Technology Program of the Spanish National R&D Program. He was one of the Spanish representatives on the Program Committee of the Growth Research program and is now acting as expert for the Program Committee of the NMP research priority of the European Union.