Abstract.
A procedure for analyzing the input-output controllability of
single-input single-output (SISO) systems is presented. This procedure
is applied to the problem of designing buffer tanks. Although buffer tanks
are often introduced for control purposes, they are usually sized in a
rather ad hoc manner without explicitly considering the expected
disturbances and desired control objectives. It is shown how to use a
simple controllability analysis as a basis for a quantitative
approach. The main steps are to consider the disturbances and scale
the variables properly. Finally, these results are applied to the
design of a pH-neutralization process.