Multi-loop decentralized PID control based on covariance control criteria: an LMI approach

PID control is well known and widely applied in industry and many design algorithms are readily available in the literature. However, systematic design of multi-loop or decentralized PID control for multivariable processes to meet certain objectives simultaneously is still a challenging task. Designing multi-loop PID controllers such that the process variables satisfy the generalized covariance constraints is studied in this paper. A convergent computational algorithm is proposed to calculate the multi-loop PID controller for a process with stable disturbances. This algorithm is then extended to a process with random-walk disturbances. The feasibility of the proposed algorithm is verified by applying it to several simulation examples.