Modeling and control of a titania aerosol reactor

Abstract

We focus on modeling and control of an aerosol flow reactor used to produce titania powder. We initially derive a fundamental mathematical model for the process that accounts for simultaneous chemical reaction, nucleation, Brownian and turbulent coagulation and convective transport. The model is subsequently used to synthesise a nonlinear output feedback controller which manipulates the temperature of the reactor wall to achieve an aerosol size distribution in the outlet of the reactor with desired geometric average particle diameter. The nonlinear controller is successfully implemented on the detailed process model and is shown to deal effectively with external disturbances.