Experimental Fuzzy/Split-Range Control: Novel Strategy for Biodiesel Batch Reactor Temperature Control

Abstract

With respect to environmental concerns, biofuels have been used around the world, such as biodiesel, and any improvement in the biodiesel production process is desirable. This paper proposes three different control systems based on fuzzy logic and output control signal split-range. Regulating reaction temperature with low settling time and process variable oscillation are the process control aims, and smooth output control signal for actuators protection is also desired. An automated biodiesel production prototype was used and the experimental results demonstrate that a fuzzy/split-range structure with three input variables showed the best performance, resulting in process variable regulation in set-point value with small settling time and actuators premature wearing prevention.

Keywords:

• Biodiesel
• Fuzzy logic
• Process control
• Split-range

Additional information

Funding

The authors appreciate the financial support provided by CNPq and CAPES