ESDIRK-based nonlinear model predictive control for stochastic differential-algebraic equations

Abstract: In this paper, we present a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) algorithm for systems modeled by semi-explicit stochastic differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) of index 1. The NMPC combines a continuous-discrete extended Kalman filter (CD-EKF) with an optimal control problem (OCP) for setpoint tracking. We discretize the OCP using direct multiple shooting. We apply an explicit singly diagonal implicit Runge-Kutta (ESDIRK) integration scheme to solve systems of DAEs, both for the one-step prediction in the CD-EKF and in each shooting interval of the discretized OCP. The ESDIRK methods use an iterated internal numerical differentiation approach for precise sensitivity computations. These sensitivities are used to provide accurate gradient information in the OCP and to efficiently integrate the covariance information in the CD-EKF. Subsequently, we present a simulation case study where we apply the NMPC to a simple alkaline electrolyzer stack model. We use the NMPC to track a time-varying setpoint for the stack temperature subject to input bound constraints.