Control oriented identification of batch processes using latent variable models

Various issues on the closed-loop identification of empirical latent variable models for model predictive control (MPC) of batch processes are investigated. The concept of identifiability is explored in the context of batch processes and desirable conditions for the identification experiments to be informative for building latent variable models are proposed. It is shown that in many situations, it is possible to identify the batch process models only from historical batches without the need for external excitation of the closed-loop system. However, adding one or two batch runs with only slight set-point trajectory changes is an efficient approach to enhance the data for the identification of the batch dynamic models. The issue of model bias in closed-loop identification using nonparametric or highly parameterized modeling approaches is also investigated and it is shown that closed loop data obtained using tightly tuned PID controllers will minimize the bias.