Abstract

This paper presents the development of a non-linear model predictive controller (NMPC) applied to a closed grinding circuit system in the cement industry. A Markov chain model is used to characterize the cement grinding circuit by modeling the ball mill and the centrifugal dust separator. The probability matrices of the Markovian model are obtained through a combination of comminution principles and experimental data obtained from the particle size distribution (PSD) of cement samples at specific stages of the system. The NMPC is designed as a supervisory controller in order to manage distributed controllers (DCs) installed in the process. Both the model and the controller are validated online through the implementation of the proposed approach in the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system of an industrial plant. The results show a significant improvement in the performance of the grinding circuit in comparison to the operation of the system without the proposed controller.