DISOPE distributed model predictive control of cascade systems with network communication

This paper deals with the distributed model predictive control problem in multi-agent systems under fixed interaction topologies. we propose a distributed model predictive control schemes with guaranteed closed-loop stability. In this distributed structure, the problem is decomposed into a set of distributed optimal control problems. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is effective under fixed interaction topologies among subsystems.

A tube-based distributed model predictive control (DMPC) scheme is proposed for dynamically coupled linear systems. The control scheme is designed to guarantee local performance even when neighboring controllers are not complying with the requirements of the algorithm (e.g., they are malicious or faulty). The resulting conservativeness is minimized, for controllers aim to minimize their state and input constraint sets to reduce mutual disturbances. Also, sufficient conditions for feasibility and exponential stability are given. Finally, these ideas are illustrated and assessed with respect to other robust DMPC via a simulated example.

This paper concerns a distributed model predictive control (DMPC) strategy in which each controller views the signals from other subsystems as disturbance inputs in its local model. The DMPC controllers exchange predictions on the bounds of their state trajectories and incorporate this information into their local DMPC problems. They also impose their own predicted state bounds as constraints in subsequent DMPC iterations to guarantee their subsystem satisfies the bounds broadcast to the other controllers. Each controller solves a local min-max problem on each iteration to optimize performance with respect to worst-case disturbances. Parameterized state feedback is introduced into the DMPC formulation to obtain less conservative solutions and predictions. The paper presents sufficient conditions for feasibility and stability. The approach is illustrated with an example.

Using aggregated heterogeneous thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) to provide ancillary services in a smart grid is a promising technique. This paper proposes an improved population model with lockout time considered to describe the aggregate dynamics. Based on that, a distributed model predictive control (DMPC) scheme is investigated to control a population of TCLs for the regulation service. Full derivations of the system model and the DMPC scheme are provided. A flexibility penalty is developed and added to the objective function to preserve the regulation flexibility. Simulation results, tested by real data, reveal the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Partitioned Based Cooperative Distributed Model Predictive Control for Large-Scale Nonlinear Systems

This work focuses on a class of nonlinear control problems that arise when new control systems which may use networked sensors and/or actuators are added to already operating control loops to improve closed‐loop performance. In this case, it is desirable to design the pre‐existing control system and the new control system in a way such that they coordinate their actions. To address this control problem, a distributed model predictive control method is introduced where both the pre‐existing control system and the new control system are designed via Lyapunov‐based model predictive control. Working with general nonlinear models of chemical processes and assuming that there exists a Lyapunov‐based controller that stabilizes the nominal closed‐loop system using only the pre‐existing control loops, two separate Lyapunov‐based model predictive controllers are designed that coordinate their actions in an efficient fashion. Specifically, the proposed distributed model predictive control design preserves the stability properties of the Lyapunov‐based controller, improves the closed‐loop performance, and allows handling input constraints. In addition, the proposed distributed control design requires reduced communication between the two distributed controllers since it requires that these controllers communicate only once at each sampling time and is computationally more efficient compared to the corresponding centralized model predictive control design. The theoretical results are illustrated using a chemical process example. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009

Distributed Model Predictive Control with Asymmetric Adaptive Terminal Sets for the Regulation of Large-scale Systems

This paper presents a distributed model predictive control(DMPC) strategy to achieve cooperative tasks like consensus and synchronization of linear systems with coupled constraints. Based on the error of state between each subsystem and the center of its cooperative set, a novel DMPC algorithm is designed with its robust feasibility guaranteed by permitting only one subsystem to optimize at each time instant, while renew other subsystems' plans. Illustrative examples are finally conducted to verify the effectiveness of the DMPC strategy.

Designing a stabilized distributed model predictive control (DMPC) with constraints is an open and important problem for a class of large-scale distributed systems, which are composed by both weakly and strongly coupled subsystems. This paper proposes a design of DMPC network to stabilize this class of large-scale systems. A coupling degree-based clustering method is first designed to classify subsystems into some middle-scale subsystems (M-subsystem) off-line according to the adjacent matrix, so that these M-subsystems are weakly coupled with each other. Then, each M-subsystem is controlled by a virtual model predictive control (MPC), which is realized by several individual controllers with running iterative cooperative DMPC algorithm, since the solution of cooperative DMPC is able to converge to a fixed point without coupling constraints. Each MPC communicates with the corresponding interacted M-subsystems’ MPCs once in a control period for exchanging future state evolution estimation. All the subsystem-based MPCs are composed of the proposed peer-to-peer DMPC network. In addition, an additional consistency and stabilization constraints are added to guarantee the recursive feasibility and stability of the overall system. The convergence of the iterative DMPC algorithm for each M-subsystem and the stabilization analysis of the overall system are provided. The simulation results show the efficiency of the proposed method. Note to Practitioners —The proposed method is designed for the systems, which are composed of both strong and weak coupling subsystems and are controlled in a distributed structure. The aim of this method is to design a distributed model predictive control (MPC) network for the operational optimization of entire system. The designed control structure and the distributed MPC algorithm with the proposed method could guarantee the recursive feasibility and asymptotic stability of the entire system. To apply this method, the first step is to obtain the models of each subsystem. Then, design the distributed MPC network structure according to the proposed cluster algorithm, which determines the set of subsystems that each virtue MPC controls. Next step is to configure the network information exchanging among these subsystems and construct the optimization problem of each subsystem. Finally, use the existing quadratically constrained quadratic program solvers to calculate the optimal control laws and apply these optimal control laws to the corresponding subsystems. This method can be used in large-scale chemical processes, air conditioner systems for multizone buildings, distributed energy generation systems, and so on.

Model predictive control for energy management in buildings Part 2: Distributed Model Predictive Control

Numerical Methods for Solution of the Extended Linear Quadratic Control Problem

This article presents a reconfigurable distributed model predictive control strategy based on dissipativity theory to deal with online process network topology change. We mainly address the situation when process units want to join or leave the process network during closed-loop operation, while maintaining the plant-wide stability. The capacity of capturing the effects of process network topology on plant-wide stability is one key feature of dissipative systems theory, which can be utilized to deal with the challenge of performing online process network reconfiguration. The redesign is restricted to subsystems whose input-output properties are directly influenced by the topology change to allow quick operation. When the request of process units joining or leaving the process network is sent, feasibility of the process network topology change has to be assessed first. If permitted, the controllers of the influenced subsystems have to be updated for the modified dynamics to maintain the stability constraint of the plant-wide system, which is translated into dissipative trajectory condition for each local controller. The main advantage of the proposed dissipativity based method is that the design procedure is simple and straightforward compared to some existing algorithm based on invariant set, in which a transition phase is required to be designed in advance to ensure recursive feasibility before process network topology change.

Game Theory Based Distributed Model Predictive Control for a Hydro-Power Valley Control

Iron precipitation is a key process in zinc hydrometallurgy. The process consists of a series of continuous reactors arranged in descending order, overflowing zinc leach solution from one reactor to the next. In this paper, according to the law of mass conservation and the reaction kinetics, a continuously stirred tank reactor model of a single reactor is first established. Then, a distributed model of cascade reactors is built with coupled control based on the single reactor model, considering the unreacted oxygen in leaching solution. Secondly, four reactors in the iron precipitation process are considered as four subsystems, the optimization control problem of the process is solved by a distributed model predictive control strategy. Moreover, the control information feedback between successive subsystems is used to solve the optimization problem of each subsystem, because of the existing control coupling in their optimization objective function of pre and post subsystems. Next, considering the intractability of the optimization problem for subsystems with various constraints, a distributed dual iterative algorithm is proposed to simplify the calculation. With the consideration of its cascade structure and control couplings, the proposed algorithm iteratively solves the primal problem and the dual problem of each subsystem. The application case shows that distributed model predictive control based on dual iteration algorithm can handle coupled control effectively and reduce the oxygen consumption.

This study proposes a distributed model predictive control (DMPC) scheme based on population games for a system formed by a set of sub-systems. In addition to considering independent operational constraints for each sub-system, the controller addresses a coupled constraint that involves the sum of all control inputs. This constraint models an upper bound on the total amount of energy supplied to the plant. The proposed approach does not need a centralised coordinator when having a coupled constraint involving all the decision variables. The proposed methodology, which takes advantage of evolutionary game theory concepts, provides an optimal solution for the described problem. Moreover, it is shown that the methodology has plug-and-play features, i.e. for each already designed local MPC controller nothing changes when more sub-systems are added/removed to/from the global constrained control problem. Furthermore, the stability analysis of the proposed DMPC scheme is presented.