Chapter 18

Control of Multiple-Input,
Multiple-Output Processes
Multiloop controllers
Modeling the interactions
Relative Gain Array (RGA)
Singular Value Analysis (SVA)
Decoupling strategies

Control of multivariable processes

Chapter 18

In practical control problems there typically are a

number of process variables which must be controlled
and a number which can be manipulated
Example: product quality and through put
must usually be controlled.
Several simple physical examples are shown in Fig.
18.1.
Note "process interactions" between controlled
and manipulated variables.

Chapter 18

SEE FIGURE 18.1

in text.

Chapter 18

 Controlled Variables: xD , xB , P, hD , and hB

Chapter 18

Manipulated Variables: D, B, R , Q D , and Q B

 In this chapter we will be concerned with characterizing process

interactions and selecting an appropriate multiloop control
configuration.

Chapter 18

If process interactions are significant, even the best multiloop

control system may not provide satisfactory control.
In these situations there are incentives for considering
multivariable control strategies

Definitions:
Multiloop control: Each manipulated variable depends on
only a single controlled variable, i.e., a set of conventional
feedback controllers.
Multivariable Control: Each manipulated variable can depend
on two or more of the controlled variables.
Examples: decoupling control, model predictive control

Multiloop Control Strategy

Chapter 18

Typical industrial approach

Consists of using n standard FB controllers (e.g. PID), one for
each controlled variable.
Control system design
1. Select controlled and manipulated variables.
2. Select pairing of controlled and manipulated variables.
3. Specify types of FB controllers.
Example: 2 x 2 system

Two possible controller pairings:

U1 with Y1, U2 with Y2 or
U1 with Y2, U2 with Y1
Note: For n x n system, n! possible pairing configurations.

Transfer Function Model (2 x 2 system)

Chapter 18

Two controlled variables and two manipulated variables

(4 transfer functions required)
Y1 ( s )
Y1 ( s )
GP11 ( s ),
GP12 ( s )
U1 ( s)
U 2 ( s)
Y2 ( s )
Y2 ( s )
GP 21 ( s ),
GP 22 ( s)
U1 ( s )
U 2 (s)

Thus, the input-output relations for the process can be

written as:

Y1 ( s ) GP11 ( s )U1 ( s ) GP12 ( s )U 2 ( s )

Y2 ( s ) GP 21 ( s )U1 ( s ) GP 22 ( s )U 2 ( s )

Or in vector-matrix notation as,

Chapter 18

Y ( s ) GP ( s )U ( s)

where Y(s) and U(s) are vectors,

Y1 ( s )
U1 ( s)
Y ( s)
, U ( s)

Y
(
s
)
U
(
s
)
2
2
And Gp(s) is the transfer function matrix for the process

G P11 (s) G P12 (s)

G P (s)

G
(
s
)
G
(
s
)
P 22
P 21

Chapter 18

Control-loop interactions
Process interactions may induce undesirable
interactions between two or more control loops.
Example: 2 x 2 system
Control loop interactions are due to the presence
of a third feedback loop.
Problems arising from control loop interactions
i) Closed -loop system may become destabilized.
ii) Controller tuning becomes more difficult

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Block Diagram Analysis

For the multiloop control configuration the transfer
function between a controlled and a manipulated
variable depends on whether the other feedback
control loops are open or closed.
Example: 2 x 2 system, 1-1/2 -2 pairing
From block diagram algebra we can show
Y1 ( s )
(second loop open)
GP11 ( s ),
U1 ( s )
Y1 ( s )
GP12GP 21GC 2 (second loop closed)
GP11
U1 ( s)
1 GC 2GP 22
Note that the last expression contains GC2 .

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Chapter 18
Figure 18.6 Stability region for Example 18.2 with 1-1/2-2 controller pairing

Chapter 18
Figure 18.7 Stability region for Example 18.2 with 1-2/2-1 controller pairing

Chapter 18

Relative gain array

Provides two useful types of information:

1) Measure of process interactions
2) Recommendation about best pairing of
controlled and manipulated variables.

Requires knowledge of s.s. gains but not

process dynamics.

Example of RGA Analysis: 2 x 2 system

Steady-state process model,

Chapter 18

Y1 K11U1 K12U 2
Y2 K 21U1 K 22U 2
The RGA is defined as:
11 12

22
21

RGA

where the relative gain, ij, relates the ith controlled

variable and the jth manipulated variable

open - loop gain

ij
closed - loop gain

Scaling Properties:

Chapter 18

i) ij is dimensionless
ii)

ij

ij

1.0

For 2 x 2 system,
1
11
,
K K
1 12 21
K11K 22

12 1 11 21

Recommended Controller Pairing

Corresponds to the ij which has the largest positive
value.

Chapter 18

In general:
1. Pairings which correspond to negative pairings should
not be selected.
2. Otherwise, choose the pairing which has ij closest
to one.
Examples:
Process Gain
Matrix, K :

Relative Gain
Array, :

K11
0

0
K 22

1 0
0 1

0
K
21

K12
0

0 1
1 0

K11
0

K12

K 22

K11
K
21

0
K 22

1 0
0 1

1 0
0 1

Recall, for 2X2 systems...

Y1 K11U1 K12U 2

11

Chapter 18

Y2 K 21U1 K 22U 2
EXAMPLE:
K12 2 1.5
K
K 11

K 21 K 22 1.5 2
2.29 1.29

1.29 2.29

1
,
K K
1 12 21
K11K 22

Recommended pairing is Y
and U1, Y2 and U2.

EXAMPLE:
2 1 .5
0.64 0.36
K

1
.
5
2
0
.
36
0
.
64

Recommended pairing is Y

12 1 11 21

with U1, Y2 with U2.

Chapter 18

EXAMPLE: Thermal Mixing System

The RGA can be expressed in terms of the manipulated variables:

Wh
Wc
Wc Wh
Wh
Wc Wh

Wc
Wh
Wc Wh

Wc
Wc Wh

Note that each relative gain is between 0 and 1. Recommended

controller pairing depends on nominal values of W,T, Th, and Tc.
See Exercise 18.16

EXAMPLE: Ill-conditioned Gain Matrix

y = Ku

Chapter 18

2 x 2 process

y1 = 5 u1 + 8 u2
y2 = 10 u1 + 15.8 u2

specify operating point y, solve for u

Adj K
u=K y =
y
det K
-1

RGA : 11

K11K 22
K11K 22

K11K 22 K12K 21
det K

effect of det K 0 ?

RGA for Higher-Order Systems:

Chapter 18

For and n x n system,

U1 U 2 L
11 12 L
21 22 L

Un
Y1
1n
Y2
2 n

M M M O
M

Yn n1 n1 L nn
Each ij can be calculated from the relation

ij K ij H ij
Where Kij is the (i,j) -element in the steady-state gain matrix, K :

Y KU

And Hij is the (i,j) -element of the H K

Note that,

KH

1 T

EXAMPLE: Hydrocracker

Chapter 18

The RGA for a hydrocracker has been reported as,

U1
U2
U3
U4
Y1 0.931
0.150
0.080 0.164
Y2 0.011 0.429 0.286
1.154

Y3 0.135 3.314 0.270 1.910

Y4 0.215 2.030 0.900

1.919
Recommended controller pairing?

Singular Value Analysis

Chapter 18

K = W VT

is diagonal matrix of singular values

(1, 2, , r)
The singular values are the positive square roots of the
eigenvalues of
KTK (r = rank of KTK)
W,V are input and output singular vectors Columns of W and
V are orthonormal. Also
WWT = I
VVT = I
Calculate , W, V using MATLAB (svd = singular value
decomposition)
Condition number (CN) is the ratio of the largest to the
smallest singular value and indicates if K is ill-conditioned.

Chapter 18

CN is a measure of sensitivity of the matrix properties to changes in a

specific element.
Consider
1 0
K

10 1
(RGA) = 1.0
If K12 changes from 0 to 0.1, then K becomes a singular matrix, which
corresponds to a process that is hard to control.
RGA and SVA used together can indicate whether a process is easy (or
hard) to control.
10.1 0
(K ) =

0 0.1

CN = 101

K is poorly conditioned when CN is a large number (e.g., > 10). Hence

small changes in the model for this process can make it very difficult to
control.

Selection of Inputs and Outputs

Chapter 18

Arrange the singular values in order of largest to

smallest and look for any i/i-1 > 10; then one or
more inputs (or outputs) can be deleted.
Delete one row and one column of K at a time and
evaluate the properties of the reduced gain matrix.
Example:
0.48
K 0.52
0.90

0.90
0.95
0.95

0.006
0.008
0.020

0.6035
0.5561

Chapter
Chapter18
18

0.7292
0.4093 0.6843
0.8311 0.0066

0.5714 0.3766

0
0
1.618
0
1.143
0
0
0
0.0097

0.0151
V 0.9985 0.0540 0.0068
0.0060 0.0154 0.9999
0.0541

0.9984

CN = 166.5 (1/3)
The RGA is as follows:

2.4376 3.0241 0.4135

1.2211 0.7617 0.5407

2.2165 1.2623 0.0458

Preliminary pairing: y1-u2, y2-u3,y3-u1.

CN suggests only two output variables can be controlled. Eliminate one input and one output
(3x32x2).

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Alternative Strategies for Dealing with Undesirable

Control Loop Interactions
1. "Detune" one or more FB controllers.
2. Select different manipulated or controlled variables.
e.g., nonlinear functions of original variables
3. Use a decoupling control scheme.
4. Use some other type of multivariable control scheme.
Decoupling Control Systems
Basic Idea: Use additional controllers to compensate for process
interactions and thus reduce control loop interactions
Ideally, decoupling control allows setpoint changes to affect only
the desired controlled variables.
Typically, decoupling controllers are designed using a simple
process model (e.g. steady state model or transfer function model)

Chapter 18

Design Equations:
We want cross-controller, GC12, to cancel out the effect of U2 on Y1.
Thus, we would like,

Chapter 18

T12GP11U 2 GP12U 2 0
Since U2 0 (in general), then

GP12
T12
GP11

Similarly, we want G21 to cancel the effect of M1 on C2. Thus, we

require that...

T21GP 22U1 GP 21U1 0

T21

GP 21
GP 22

cf. with design equations for FF control based on block diagram

analysis

Chapter 18

Alternatives to Complete Decoupling

Static Decoupling (use SS gains)
Partial Decoupling (either GC12 or GC21 is set equal to
zero)
Process Interaction
Corrective Action (via cross-controller or decoupler).
Ideal Decouplers:

GP12 ( s )
T12 ( s )
GP11 ( s )
GP 21 ( s )
T21 ( s )
GP 22 ( s )

Variations on a Theme:

Chapter 18

Partial Decoupling:
Use only one cross-controller.
Static Decoupling:
Design to eliminate SS interactions
Ideal decouplers are merely gains:

K P12
T12
K P11
K P 21
T21
K P 22
Nonlinear Decoupling
Appropriate for nonlinear processes.

Chapter 18

Chapter 18
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