Disturbance-observer-based fuzzy model predictive control for nonlinear processes with disturbances and input constraints

This paper proposes a disturbance-observer-based fuzzy model predictive control (DOBFMPC) scheme for the nonlinear process subject to disturbances and input constraints. The proposed control scheme is composed of the baseline fuzzy model predictive control (FMPC) law designed on the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model and the disturbance compensation law. To build a fuzzy model of appropriate complexity and accuracy for the nonlinear process model, a systematic approach is developed via the gap metric to determine the linearization points. With FMPC, the asymptotic stability is theoretically proved, and the input constraints are satisfied by both the free control variables and the future control inputs in the form of the state feedback law. The disturbance compensation gain is designed such that the influence of the disturbance is removed from the output channels by the composite DOBFMPC law at the steady state. The application to a subcritical boiler–turbine system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.