A dynamical supervisor strategy for multi-product processes

Abstract

Competing in the global marketing place puts additional burden on multi-product manufacturing processes. Each transition to a different product grade must be made efficiently with the simultaneous objectives of minimal off-spec product and feed stock waste, and non-violation of safety and environmental constraints. In this work, a hybrid, dynamical supervisory control strategy is presented to address transition control of multi-product processes. The scheme involves the selection of the best setpoint controller, from an existing family of feedback controllers so as to cause the output to track the desired setpoint. The performance of the supervisory control strategy is demonstrated on an exothermic reactor.