DESIGN OF CONTROL ALGORITHM FOR pH NEUTRALIZATION

Neutralization is an essential part in a process plant which handles wastewater treatment, chemical process, and biotechnology. The main purpose of neutralization is to adjust the pH value of the effluent streams to meet the environmental requirements and quality standards which are continuously being revised. However, pH processes are extremely difficult to control due to their intrinsic nonlinear properties, high sensitivity around neutralization point, and time variant characteristics. Therefore, a robust control algorithm is needed for the utilization of the system. A semi batch event to handle pH process introduced different approach to linearize the complex system. A mathematical model of a specific chemical process is designed as a basis to the development of conventional and advanced controllers. PID controller is developed and the performances are compared through the subsequent objective to familiarize with mathematical modelling in MATLAB’s Simulink environment. From the simulation study, conventional controller is inadequate to demonstrate satisfactory control performances. Future works can be carried out using feedback linearization control strategy to accurately regulate the pH values of the model in both simulation as well as pH pilot plant which is built using instrumentation and actuators presently used in the process industries at Block 23, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.