On the heuristic design of common PI controllers for multi-model plants

A generic heuristic algorithm is introduced for the derivation of "common" PI controllers that is PI controllers that achieve specific performance requirements simultaneously for all members of a set of linear models, called the target set. Common PI controllers find application for the control of processes with multi-linear description, since they can achieve safe and satisfactory performance for all switching events between the linear models of the target set. The heuristic algorithm is generic, simple to use and can be extended for other classes of controllers. The performance of the heuristic algorithm is illustrated for the case of a double effect evaporator process