Internal Model Control Design for Autothermal Reforming System

Abstract

This paper focuses on the control system design for a process of autothermal reforming (ATR) of ethanol. The targeted application is within an on-board fuel processor of ATR operating at the adiabatic reaction temperature for hydrogen production. An internal model control (IMC) method is designed for controlling the adiabatic reaction temperature of ATR reactor by manipulating the input air flow rate. Two strategies of controller design with and without the feed temperature control of the preheater unit are proposed in order to determine the suitable controller system as the surrounding temperature is a major disturbance for cold weather. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that IMC strategy can achieve desired performance. Two loops of control system of the ATR process combined with the feed temperature control can compensate the surrounding temperature better than without the feed temperature control.