Abstract
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) with N Input/ N Output processes are characterized by significant interactions between their inputs and outputs. The control of MIMO processes is usually implemented using sets of single-input single-output (SISO) loop controllers, which requires proper input–output pairing and development of decoupling compensator unit. In this paper, a generalized decoupling technique is proposed. The proposed technique uses relative gain array (RGA) to select proper pairing and particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique to estimate the optimal elements’ values of steady state decoupling compensation matrix constituting the decoupling compensator unit. The proposed technique is applied on 4 Input/ 4 Output two coupled distillation columns process, it proves remarkable success in minimizing the interaction between every input and all outputs except that output has been proper paired with.