Applications of Modern Control Theory to the MMM Industries

Abstract

The role of the modern control theory in applications to processes in the mining, mineral and metal (MMM) processing industries is elucidated. The processes are in general multivariable, as the product quality and the actions of control are both multiple quantities. The processes include often time-varying parameters, long transportation delays and severe stochastic disturbances.Examples are given in which ideas and methods of the modern control theory have been utilized in practical applications to realize real time parameter identification, state estimation, prediction, feedback control, decoupling and adaptation.It is concluded that the theory is indispensable to guide and support the development of better process control. The key to success is the right process model, in many cases a relatively simple model combining pre-knowledge and real time model fitting.