Intelligent Precision Control for Air Heater Systems

Air heater systems and, in general, thermo conditioning systems are among the most used systems in industrial and domestic areas. Superior performances in exploitation are real sources of energy savings. This paper presents some aspects on the intelligent precision control of air heater processes. The proposed solution consists in a general decentralized control structure for pressure/flow and temperature processes, the main phenomena in thermal systems. The important influences between pressure/flow and temperature loops are solved using an intelligent combined multiple model - feedforward control structure. Its applicability is analyzed by means of a real-time structure implementation using a RST control algorithm. Based on the software implementation, an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solution is made.