Modeling and control of nanofiltration for organic component in aqueous solution using GMC controller

Abstract

Membrane separation process has become an important unit in many industrials. Dynamic control of membrane separation process has not been received much study because studying of dynamic membrane process behavior still does not develop a satisfied model to explain membrane separation mechanism. Controlling of membrane separation process needs a reliability mathematical model to explain the complicated mechanisms such as mass-transfer mechanism, concentration polarization, and fouling. It is important to develop the model to represent the real process before using the model to predict and handle the response of membrane separation process. In this research, a nanofiltration membrane process for tannic acid component in aqueous solution has been studied. The mathematical model of this system is developed to explain behavior of the system and determine the optimal set point of controlled variable, water-permeate flux, using applied pressure as a manipulated variable. A GMC controller coupled with a Kalman filter is implemented to track optimal water flux set point. The GMC coupled with Kalman filter has been found to be effective and robust with respect to changes in process parameters.