MULTIVARIABLE CONTROL OF A REDUCTION FURNACE

In the world of control the enormous difficulties encountered in reaching satisfactory results with the design and implementation of controllers for Multi-Input/Multi-Output (MIMO) processes are well known, in particular; when the interactions can not be ignored. This situation becomes even more complicated when the control process exhibits non-linear and/or time-varying dynamic characteristics. Not uncommonly, system designers of industrial processes control have to face such complexities. This paper describes the experience attained by the authors in the design of a fuzzy control system for a reduction furnace in a nickel processing plant, which exhibits the above mentioned characteristics.