Modeling of HDT pneumatic drying machine for moisture control

Abstract

The drying process in cigarette factories, centered around the HDT pneumatic drying machine, has historically faced significant challenges with moisture inconsistency. To address this issue, a steady-state model grounded in mass and energy conservation principles was developed, focusing on key variables such as tobacco moisture content and temperature. By integrating model-based feedforward control, the system successfully reduced moisture fluctuations across different batches, ensuring more consistent tobacco moisture levels. Validation through Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the model’s accuracy, and actual control effect demonstrated a mean reduction of 7.65% in the standard deviation of cooling moisture and a 20.27% decrease in the standard deviation of overall moisture variation, significantly improving batch consistency.