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Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the evaluation of properties of early design models, the control structure selection and the representation and properties of composite system models. The work is motivated by the need to introduce a Systems and Control Theory based framework for early design stages of the overall system design of engineering processes, and in particular chemical processes, such as process synthesis and control structure selection. The overall spirit of the work is that engineering design is an evolutionary process, the different stages of which shape the structure of the resulting system models and precondition the potential for design at the next stage. The work identifies a number of key problems in the overall design, which are of a generic, systemic character, and then deals with working out solutions for such problems. The results contribute in the development of a framework for systems integration using as criteria and tools, those provided by Systems and Control Theory. The work aims to provide a control theoretic dimension to the rules and practices currently used in the specific application areas.

The thesis contributes in the development of a Systems and Control conceptual and tools framework for integrated design of engineering processes by providing results in the following areas:
- Specification of a number of generic problems in the field of integrated design and identification of relevant control theoretic concepts and tools.
- Study of Model Orientation for linear implicit state-space models and definition of classes of oriented realisations.
- Development of solutions to two problems of Structural Identification for uncertain early process models related to infinite zero structure and McMillan degree.
- Development of a generic representation of composite systems that allows the study of transition from the aggregate to composite system properties, as a generalised Control Design and characterisation of some key system properties.
-Specification of a framework for integrated Control Structure Selection and development of software for many approaches of the "interaction analysis" indicators.

The results contribute in the area of development of the systems and control ideas for the problems of systems integration and early design. The work emphasises the strong links between Modelling, Selection of Control Structures and Control Structural methodologies.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Mathematics

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