Application of advanced soft control strategies into the dairy industry

This paper outlines the application of soft control strategies in the thermal treatment in the dairy industry. The milk pasteurizer is the most important process for guarantee the quality of the milk. The article describes with details the application of fuzzy logic and neural network in a plate heat exchanger (PHE). Recently the application of artificial intelligent has increased sharply, especially, fuzzy logic due to its easy implementation and low mathematical level. This article discusses technical features of three advanced control technologies: Fuzzy control, Model Reference Adaptive Fuzzy Control and neural networks, their implementation in food processes including a comparative study.Industrial relevanceExisting control does not permit to introduce the experience of the operator for an adequate control of the milk pasteurization in industrial applications. Consequently, it was the aim of this very relevant to test the efficiency of soft techniques (fuzzy logic and neural networks) to control the temperature during milk pasteurization. The uses of soft techniques do not require complex mathematical models and complex tuning control methods. Since the controller can be realized by simple arithmetic operations, it can be improved continuously.