On reachability of parallel-flow heat exchanger equations with boundary inputs. (Q2641973)

This paper is concerned with the problem of reachability for parallel flow two-fluid heat exchanger equations with boundary inputs. It is shown that the boundary control system is well defined in the sense of [\textit{R. F. Curtain} and \textit{H. Zwart}, An introduction to infinite-dimensional linear systems theory. Texts in Applied Mathematics. 21. (New York), NY: Springer-Verlag. (1995; Zbl 0839.93001)] and that it is reachable. The proof gives a concrete expression of the corresponding controls. This is possible since the author obtains an explicit solution of the considered system through the method of characteristics. This representation of the solution allows a very clear analysis of the reachability problem. A reachable subspace is given for the case where only one boundary input is added to the system.