Implementation of Predictive Model Based Control on Programmable Logic Controller

Abstract Model-based predictive control (MBPC) is one of the first and most popular non-standard control methods. Although MBPC has around 30 year history, it was usually implemented in industrial control systems using PC computers. Technological progress made control equipment more powerful last years. Modem programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are now capable to run more computation consuming algorithms. The paper presents an application of one of the commercially used MBPC control methods - Predictive Functional Control (PFC). The standard first-order nonlinear system with polynomial approximation is proposed as internal model. The application was made for flow control of the fluid in the installation of chemical reactor. Presented application shows that nonlinear control can be necessary even at a very low level in the control hierarchy.