Three-Tank Process Level Control based on a Nonlinear Observer

This paper investigates the design and the hardware implementation of the control level for the three-tank system in modeling error and unavoidable disturbances. The main objective is to design a new controller such that the closed-loop meets the two reference levels using the only measured output available in sampling instants. A filtered continuous-discrete high-gain observer is designed to estimate the missing state. The estimated, treated as the exact state, is then used in the combined flatness-PI feedback control law. The proposed controller is very efficient in simulation and in real-time implementation.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the design and hardware implementation of the control level for the three-tank system, considering modeling error and unavoidable disturbances. By designing a new controller, the closed-loop is able to meet two reference levels, and a high-gain observer is utilized to estimate the missing state.