Predictive control system design for lime kiln process

Abstract

MPC is a computer-based technique that requires the process model to anticipate the future outputs of that process. An optimal control action is taken by MPC based on this prediction. The MPC is so popular since its control performance has been reported to be best among other conventional techniques to control the multivariable dynamical plants with various inputs and outputs constraints. In this work, the control of lime kiln process with two manipulated variables namely the fuel gas flowrate, and the percent opening of the induced draft damper and two controlled variables namely front-end temperature and back-end temperature has been attempted using MPC technique. Lime kiln process is very complex and nonlinear multivariable process. A linearized model obtained using Taylor series expansion around operating point has been used.