• automation
• industry
• mpc
• paper
• papermaking

The aim of the presented analysis is the introduction of the Model Predictive Control theory and practice in the paper industry. Nowadays, the paper production requires a very high effectiveness in controlling paper quality properties. The speed of the machines, the huge amount of devices, data and actuators involved in the production chain require complex actions which operators are not anymore able to fulfill on their own. One of the most challenging targets in papermaking is to ensure the needed paper quality which has always to fit into specific ranges according to given grades. Deviations from the target point may result in high money loss and market share reduction. The MPC approach introduces advantages, in comparison to the current strategies, oriented to obtain better performances in the production process. MPC is almost completely ignored in paper manufacturing plants, and it is shown how this approach has room to be applied in the production lines. Unlike the current methods, MPC provides the optimality approach to the control strategy based on the definition of cost functions. The nominal model of the process is built, and it is applied in the control computation. Results and graphics about the simulation are provided to prove the reliability of the strategy. A comparison with the approach employing the Smith Predictor is presented.