Application of dynamic modelling and model‐based predictive control to enhance a cooling tower

Model predictive control (MPC) differs from traditional feedback control by making predictions within a time horizon, providing better control actions for the process. In this work, MPC technique was applied to a cooling tower, using ambient air flow rate as a manipulated variable and the water temperature at the tower outlet as a process variable. The novelty of this work was the proposal of a direct infinite‐horizon MPC (IHMPC) based on a linear time‐invariant approach, with a reduced computational burden. The performance of the IHMPC, in relation to conventional regulatory controllers (PID), was evaluated through simulations using a rigorous nonlinear model to represent the cooling tower dynamics. In comparison with PID, the IHMPC reduced the stabilization time by 45% without present oscillations and undershoot in the cooled water temperature, making it possible to reach the set‐point of 20°C after 96 min of operation where the maximum air flow was 3.17 × 10 6 m 3 h −1 .