Constrained regulator problem for linear uncertain systems: Control of a pH process

The regulator problem for linear uncertain continuous-time systems having control constraints is considered. Necessary and sufficient conditions of positive invariance of polyhedral domains are extended to the case of continuous-time uncertain systems. Robust constrained regulators are then derived. An application to the control of pH in a stirred tank is then presented. First, the uncertainty in the pH process is evaluated from first-principle models, then the design of a robust constrained regulator is presented. Simulation results show that this control law is easy to implement and that robust asymptotic stability and control admissibility are guaranteed.