Multivariable control configurations for fluid catalytic cracking units

The control problem of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units is a challenging task due to its model complexity, nonlinear dynamics, constrained variables and cross coupling interaction between inputs and outputs. This work is concerned with the design of multivariable feedback control configurations for FCC units. Sufficient conditions to achieve regulation in terms of the steady-state gain matrix are provided, allowing to obtain a systematic procedure for analyzing multivariable control configurations of complex and interacting processes. Numerical simulations on a dynamical model based on a FCC unit operating in the partial-combustion mode are used to show the effectiveness of several multivariable control configurations under disturbances and uncertainty parameters.