ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the application of recent nonlinear control and observer theory to the problem of temperature control in a gas fired furnace. The furnace under consideration can be thought of as a gas filled enclosure containing a heat sink (such as a load), bounded by insulating walls. Heat input is achieved via a burner located in one of the end walls and the combustion products are evacuated through a flue positioned in the roof. Although this represents the simplest design possible — a single burner arrangement-such a plant could legitimately represent an industrial furnace for the firing of ceramics. This design has been chosen as a starting point for the study of controllers for high temperature heating plant principally because a prototype single burner furnace is available for controller evaluation purposes.
