Infrared Drying: From Process Modeling to Advanced Process Control

Abstract

The article surveys the drying of solids materials and polymer solutions when infrared radiation (IR) is employed as the main heating source. The study reviews the current research trends of IR drying of specific applications. A case study similar to an industrial setting is presented to illustrate a model development and control scheme of an IR drying unit. The design and online implementation of an internal model controller (IMC) is discussed. The study demonstrates the controller capabilities to suppress random variations of the moisture content in the material entering the dryer. Simulation results also showed the success of model predictive control (MPC) multivariable controller ability, while handling process interactions and process constraints, to track setpoint changes in the humidity and temperature of the material exiting the dryer and to reject unmeasured stochastic disturbances in the inlet humidity stream.

Keywords:

• Infrared drying
• Internal model control
• IR real data
• Model predictive control