MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF AN INDUSTRIAL LIME KILN

In Model Predictive Control, the controller is not a fixed control law but is an optimization problem that is updated and solved every sampling time. This technique was applied successfully to the control of an industrial lime kiln. The parameters chosen for control were the front end and back end temperatures. These temperatures were controlled by manipulating the fuel flow rate and the opening of the induced draft fan. When the control was implemented in an actual lime kiln, it responded well to process upsets and changes in setpoints.