Nonlinear and bilinear models for chemical reactor control

The dynamic behavior of a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with an exothermic reversible reaction is studied. The balance equations of the reaction lead to a set of highly nonlinear differential equations. For system analysis and control synthesis the dynamic equation are rewritten as state space model. From this nonlinear model a bilinear model is derived. Then, two optimization problems are solved: The time optimal problem for the nonlinear model and the quadratic problem for the bilinear model. In case of the finite time bilinear-quadratic problem a modified Riccati approximation algorithm for a stabilizing feedback controller is presented.