10 research outputs found
A Hierarchical Architecture for the Coordination of an Ensemble of Steam Generators
This work presents a hierarchical architecture for the optimal management of
an ensemble of steam generators, which needs to jointly sustain a common load.
The coordination of independent subsystems is provided by a multi-layer control
scheme. A high-level optimizer computes the optimal shares of production to be
allocated to single generators. At medium level, a robust tube-based model
predictive control (MPC) is proposed to track the time-varying demand of the
ensemble using a centralized, but aggregated model, whose order does not scale
with the number of subsystems. At low level, decentralized controllers are in
place to stabilize the internal boiler pressure. The control architecture
enables the dynamic modification of the ensemble configuration and plug and
play operations. Simulation results are reported to demonstrate the
potentialities of the proposed approach
Safety-Critical Control for Ensemble Systems
In this paper, we derive set constraints for a reduced order model and augment them into a model predictive control (MPC) scheme to ensure safe operation of the large-scale ensemble system. For the control feedback, only the aggregated information of the whole system is required. For the constraint satisfaction, we consider an adaptive tube formulation to characterize the deviation between the reduced order model and the ensemble system. Employing the robust control invariant set, we ensure recursive feasibility and initial feasibility under an easily verifiable condition
On Consistency Viability and Admissibility in Constrained Ensemble and Hierarchical Control Systems
Several control architectures, such as decentralized, distributed, and hierarchical control, have been elaborated over the past decades for controlling systems composed of a set of subsystems. However, computational complexity and constraint satisfaction are still challenging tasks. We present an approach to control an ensemble of similar heterogeneous systems with input and state constraints via an identical control input. This control input is globally admissible and computed based on an aggregated system that reflects the overall behavior of the ensemble. To limit the computational complexity of the control task, the aggregated system is designed such that its dimension is independent of the number of subsystems. To guarantee viability, i.e., state constraint satisfaction for all times, appropriate consistency conditions are derived based on invariant set theory. The presented approach is illustrated with a numerical example
Desmoglein2 Regulates Claudin2 Expression by Sequestering PI-3-Kinase in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Inflammation-induced reduction of intestinal desmosomal cadherin Desmoglein 2 (Dsg2) is linked to changes of tight junctions (TJ) leading to impaired intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) function by undefined mechanisms. We characterized the interplay between loss of Dsg2 and upregulation of pore-forming TJ protein Claudin2. Intraperitoneal application of Dsg2-stablising Tandem peptide (TP) attenuated impaired IEB function, reduction of Dsg2 and increased Claudin2 in DSS-induced colitis in C57Bl/6 mice. TP blocked loss of Dsg2-mediated adhesion and upregulation of Claudin2 in Caco2 cells challenged with TNFα. In Dsg2-deficient Caco2 cells basal expression of Claudin2 was increased which was paralleled by reduced transepithelial electrical resistance and by augmented phosphorylation of AKT under basal conditions. Inhibition of phosphoinositid-3-kinase proved that PI-3-kinase/AKT-signaling is critical to upregulate Claudin2. In immunostaining PI-3-kinase dissociated from Dsg2 under inflammatory conditions. Immunoprecipitations and proximity ligation assays confirmed a direct interaction of Dsg2 and PI-3-kinase which was abrogated following TNFα application. In summary, Dsg2 regulates Claudin2 expression by sequestering PI-3-kinase to the cell borders in intestinal epithelium