Dynamic modeling and predictive control of a microfluidic system

Abstract

Microfluidics, a discipline that studies the behavior of fluids in microscopic channels, has led to important advances in fields as diverse as microelectronics, biotechnology and chemistry. Microfluidic research is mainly based on the use of microfluidic chips, low-cost devices that can be used to perform laboratory experiments using small amounts of fluid. These systems, however, require advanced control mechanisms in order to accurately achieve the flow rates and pressures required in the experiments. In this paper we present the design of a model predictive controller intended to regulate the fluid flows in one of these systems. The results obtained, both through simulations and real experiments performed on the device, demonstrate that predictive control is an ideal technique to control these systems, especially taking into account all the existing constraints.