A Proposal of a Nonlinear Observer Applied to the Heat Exchange Phenomena in a Double Pipe Heat Exchanger

The aim of this paper is to show the heat exchange phenomena applied in a double pipe heat exchanger pilot plant scale, by considering a macroscopic dynamic model, that describes the evolution of the temperature of hot and cold fluids in the equipment. The proposed dynamic model is function of mean effective temperature difference and of the thermodynamic and transport properties, which are of strictly uncertain nature. These uncertainties can be isolated with the use of mathematical tools of differential geometry, based on Lie algebra and nonlinear dynamic observer design that uses only the information related with mass fluid flows and the mass contained in the equipment. The numerical simulations represent the heat exchanger physical behavior, and these results can be used to formulate robust control strategies physically feasible.