Technique for converting a model predictive control (MPC) system into an explicit two-degrees of freedom (2DOF) control system

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a reference tracking performance ratio and a disturbance rejection performance ratio associated with a model predictive control (MPC) controller;

filtering an output target signal for the MPC controller using a first filter based on the reference tracking performance ratio;

filtering a feedback signal for the MPC controller using a second filter based on the disturbance rejection performance ratio; and

providing the filtered signals to the MPC controller, the MPC controller configured to use the filtered signals to control an industrial process;

wherein the reference tracking performance ratio defines a ratio between a desired closed-loop reference tracking response time of the MPC controller and an open-loop response time of the industrial process; and

wherein the disturbance rejection performance ratio defines a ratio between a desired closed-loop disturbance rejecting response time of the MPC controller and the open-loop response time of the industrial process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second filters provide two degrees of freedom for tuning reference tracking and disturbance rejection operations of the MPC controller.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the reference tracking operation of the MPC controller and the disturbance rejection operation of the MPC controller are independently tunable.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating the feedback signal by identifying a difference between an actual output of the industrial process and an expected output of the industrial process.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the difference between the actual and expected outputs includes all model uncertainties associated with the MPC controller and the industrial process.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the reference tracking performance ratio controls how aggressively the MPC controller responds to a change in the output target signal; and

the disturbance rejection performance ratio controls how aggressively the MPC controller responds to a disturbance in the feedback signal.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing device configured to:

obtain a reference tracking performance ratio and a disturbance rejection performance ratio associated with a model predictive control (MPC) controller;

filter an output target signal for the MPC controller using a first filter based on the reference tracking performance ratio;

filter a feedback signal for the MPC controller using a second filter based on the disturbance rejection performance ratio; and

provide the filtered signals to the MPC controller, the MPC controller configured to use the filtered signals to control an industrial process;

wherein the reference tracking performance ratio defines a ratio between a desired closed-loop reference tracking response time of the MPC controller and an open-loop response time of the industrial process; and

wherein the disturbance rejection performance ratio defines a ratio between a desired closed-loop disturbance rejecting response time of the MPC controller and the open-loop response time of the industrial process.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second filters are configured to provide two degrees of freedom for tuning reference tracking and disturbance rejection operations of the MPC controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the reference tracking operation of the MPC controller and the disturbance rejection operation of the MPC controller are independently tunable.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to generate the feedback signal by identifying a difference between an actual output of the industrial process and an expected output of the industrial process.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the difference between the actual and expected outputs includes all unmeasurable disturbances associated with the MPC controller and the industrial process.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:

the reference tracking performance ratio controls how aggressively the MPC controller responds to a change in the output target signal; and

the disturbance rejection performance ratio controls how aggressively the MPC controller responds to a disturbance in the feedback signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least one memory configured to store the reference tracking performance ratio and the disturbance rejection performance ratio.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least one interface configured to receive the output target signal and to provide a control signal to an actuator or a regulatory controller in the industrial process.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

filtering an output target signal for a model predictive control (MPC) controller using a first filter based on a reference tracking performance ratio;

filtering a feedback signal for the MPC controller using a second filter based on a disturbance rejection performance ratio; and

providing the filtered signals to the MPC controller, the MPC controller configured to use the filtered signals to control an industrial process;

wherein the reference tracking performance ratio defines a ratio between a desired closed-loop reference tracking response time of the MPC controller and an open-loop response time of the industrial process; and

wherein the disturbance rejection performance ratio defines a ratio between a desired closed-loop disturbance rejecting response time of the MPC controller and the open-loop response time of the industrial process.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the first and second filters are configured to provide two degrees of freedom for tuning reference tracking and disturbance rejection operations of the MPC controller; and

the reference tracking operation of the MPC controller and the disturbance rejection operation of the MPC controller are independently tunable.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the computer program further comprises computer readable program code for generating the feedback signal by identifying a difference between an actual output of industrial process and an expected output of the industrial process; and

the difference between the actual and expected outputs includes all unmeasurable disturbances associated with the MPC controller and the industrial process.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the reference tracking performance ratio controls how aggressively the MPC controller responds to a change in the output target signal; and

the disturbance rejection performance ratio controls how aggressively the MPC controller responds to a disturbance in the feedback signal.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating at least one control signal for controlling the industrial process based on the filtered signals using the MPC controller; and

providing the at least one control signal to the industrial process.

20. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to execute the MPC controller in order to:

generate at least one control signal for controlling the industrial process based on the filtered signals; and

provide the at least one control signal to the industrial process.