Design of a decoupling controller structure for first order hyperbolic PDEs with distributed control action

A new decoupling controller structure by attaching the sensors to the moving goods is developed. This approach is numerically efficient and thus suitable for online application, in contrast to most existing control strategies. Using the method of characteristics, the system of partial differential equations (PDEs) is transformed into ordinary differential equations for every measuring point on the transported good. A nonlinear flatness-based tracking controller is designed, based on a new decoupling strategy. The approach is applied to a continuous furnace.