Applications of modern control theory to process control

This paper contains a brief description of research on the control of an enzyme reactor at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. One of the objectives of the research is to develop improved design methods for use in the chemical industry in order to increase productivity and efficiency in laboratory, pilot plant, and production facilities. A laboratory bench scale apparatus with a problem environment similar to that found in a commercial pilot plant has been built, and an interdisciplinary team of engineers, chemists, and mathematicians has been organized. This paper describes the project and some of its goals.