| This work represents an investigation into both open and closed-loop behaviour of certain chemical reactors. The viewpoint adopted in the dissertation reinforces the notion that rational controller design for nonlinear processes is ultimately concerned with analysing the flow on the closed-loop dynamical system. From this perspective, the controller design problem then reduces to that of investigating both the limiting static and dynamic behaviour exhibited by the closed-loop system; a problem that falls in the domain of bifurcation theory.;Thus, in this study, we first study the open-loop static bifurcation behaviour of a continuous polymerization reactor. Next, ideas from both bifurcation and control theories are effectively combined to develop control strategies for both polymerization reactors and some other classes of chemical reactors. In certain instances, this approach allows rigorous conclusions on global stability to be made. Furthermore, it is shown that for some classes of nonlinear reactors, this design framework facilitates the construction of adaptive mechanisms which make the above control schemes globally robust with respect to parameter uncertainty.;Finally, in the latter part of the design, we introduce an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) into the closed-loop plant. This is motivated by the fact that in a wide variety of chemical processes, it is difficult to measure all the state variables required for control. Hence, these variables are estimated with the EKF and implemented in the control scheme. Excellent simulation results are obtained. |
