Improved Profitability of a Pulping Mill through Progressive Controller Structure Expansion

Abstract

It has been well documented that multivariate systems will benefit from application of advanced control strategies. The application of these methods has thus far been hindered for a variety of reasons which range from complexity of the design methodologies to the cost associated with implementation of these solutions. This paper shows that there exist alternative means by which existing control strategies of a multivariate system could be extended, thereby leading to increased efficiency, without the need to remove and implement a new control system installation. A realistic model of an entire pulping mill is used in this paper to show that by careful selection of only a few additional control loops which are added to the existing structure, sizeable profitability and operational gains may be achieved.