This project deals with the startup of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) controllers for industrial MIMO systems.
It aims to make the commissioning of a MIMO controller more straight forward by gradually commissioning it from a set of single input single output (SISO) controllers, after the system has been started.

For this purpose a stepwise commissioning strategy based on the Youla-Kucera parameterization has been developed.
It allows for the gradual transition between any two controllers amongst a set of stabilizing controllers in a controlled manner while guaranteeing nominal stability.
The only additional requirements imposed is that it requires a plant model and any additional stable and stabilizing controller.

To test if this strategy works in practice on a real industrial system, a case study has been conducted in collaboration with Grundfos of a steam boiler located at Danish Crown in Sønderborg.
The objective was to design a feed water controller and control the water level in the steam boiler, which makes the controller a multiple input single output (MISO) controller.
A model has been adopted from a previous student project which focuses on the same system.
A parameter identification has been carried out with data gathered in the same project.

Based on this model, both a PI and an optimal MISO controller has been designed and used in the developed stepwise commissioning strategy.
This controller has been implemented on a control platform and has been tested on the real steam boiler.
It shows that the gradual stepwise commissioning between the two controllers occurs very similar to the theoretical one, which makes the developed strategy very promising.