Derivation and validation of a coal mill model for control

The paper presents development and validation of a coal mill model to be used for improved mill control, which may lead to a better load following capability of power plants fired by pulverized coal. The model is relatively simple, yet it captures all significant mill dynamics. The model is validated using data from four mills of a similar type from two different manufacturers. In the validation, model parameters are estimated using an efficient evolutionary algorithm called Differential Evolution. The model parameters are similar for all four mills, indicating that the model structure can be trusted.