Robust reduced-order machine learning modeling of high-dimensional nonlinear processes using noisy data

Autoencoder-based reduced-order machine learning models have been developed for modeling and predictive control of nonlinear chemical processes with high dimensionality such as discretization of reaction–diffusion processes. However, in the presence of data noise, autoencoders may over-fit the training data and subsequently learn an inaccurate low-dimensional representation of the process variables. This leads to an inaccurate prediction model when the models are integrated with model predictive control (MPC). To address this issue, this work develops a novel machine-learning-based reduced-order modeling method by integrating SpectralDense layers into autoencoders and incorporating them with recurrent neural networks. We demonstrate that the new architecture of autoencoders using SpectralDense layers is more robust against over-fitting than conventional autoencoders in the presence of data noise, which improves the prediction accuracy in MPC. A diffusion–reaction process simulation example is used to demonstrate that the robust autoencoders outperform those using conventional layers for reduced-order modeling in predictive control.