AAU Student Projects - visit Aalborg University's student projects portal
A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


Robust Control of A Refrigerated Container

Author

Term

10. term

Publication year

2009

Pages

65

Abstract

This thesis investigates whether a model-based robust controller can improve the control of a refrigerated shipping container (reefer) by coordinating compressor speed and expansion valve opening to ensure good evaporator performance and stability. A nonlinear modular model of the vapor-compression system is trimmed at multiple operating points to extract linear time-invariant models, and their variation is captured with a parametric uncertainty description. The robust control problem is formulated and addressed first with H-infinity synthesis on the nominal plant to validate the setup, then with mu-synthesis using D–K iterations on the uncertain plant. The design targets maintaining the box temperature under realistic operating conditions with small reference changes, no de-icing, and compressor speeds above 20 Hz (ambient 25–55°C, box −5 to −25°C). The resulting controller achieves robust stability but not robust performance according to the formulated criteria. Simulations and reefer tests nevertheless show improved behavior compared to the existing controller, with more stable box temperature and superheat pressure.

Denne afhandling undersøger, om en modelbaseret robust regulator kan forbedre styringen af en kølet fragtcontainer (reefer) ved at fokusere på kompressorhastighed og ekspansionsventil for at sikre god ydeevne og stabilitet i fordamperen. Et ikke-lineært modulært systemmodel af kølekredsløbet trimmes i flere arbejdspunkter for at udtrække lineære tidsinvariante modeller, og deres variation beskrives som parametrisk usikkerhed. Det robuste kontrolproblem formuleres og adresseres først med H-infinity-syntese på den nominelle plante for at validere opsætningen, dernæst med mu-syntese ved hjælp af D-K-iterationer på den usikre plante. Designet sigter mod at opretholde boksens temperatur under realistiske betingelser med små referenceændringer, uden afriming, og ved kompressorhastigheder over 20 Hz (omgivelser 25–55°C, boks −5 til −25°C). Den resulterende regulator opnår robust stabilitet, men ikke robust performance efter de formulerede kriterier. Simulationer og test på en reefer viser alligevel forbedret adfærd sammenlignet med den eksisterende regulator, med mere stabil bokstemperatur og superheat-tryk.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]