Preview sliding mode controller with delay ahead predictor based PID sliding surface for the control of reboiler temperature of reactive distillation column in the biodiesel plant

Abstract This work proposes a Preview Sliding Mode Controller (PSMC) with delay ahead predictor based PID sliding surface for controlling the reboiler temperature in the Reactive Distillation Column (RDC) of biodiesel plant. The above process is represented as a First Order Plus Dead Time (FOPDT) model. The proposed controller ensures time delay compensation and preview compensation. It delivers better closed loop performance with 96 % reduction in settling time, when compared to the performance of an optimally tuned PID controller applied for controlling FOPDT system. And also it is robust against ±5 % parametric uncertainties in gain, time constant and dead time when applied alone and together. The proposed controller has preview compensation term which improves the transient response and the PID sliding surface improves the steady state response.