Fuzzy control of a neutralization process

This paper studies the control of pH neutralization processes using fuzzy controllers. As the process to be controlled is highly nonlinear the usual PI-type fuzzy controller is not able to control these systems adequately. To solve this problem, based on prior knowledge of the process, the pH neutralization process is divided into several fuzzy regions such as high-gain, medium-gain and low-gain, with an auxiliary variable used to detect the process operation region. Then, a fuzzy logic controller can also be designed using this auxiliary variable as input, giving adequate performance in all regions. This controller has been tested in real-time on a laboratory plant. On-line results show that the designed control system operates the plant in a range of pH values, despite perturbations and variations of the plant parameters, obtaining good performance at the desired working points.