System identification for load balancing with the genetic algorithm

There is a wide range of industrial activities involving load balancing problems and there is currently no general approach to such problems. The genetic algorithm is a heuristic search procedure based on the paradigm of evolution which has proved to be successful in optimisation problems and is often used in conjunction with other methods. This paper describes the use of the genetic algorithm to optimise an on-line computer model of a sugar beet pressing station and the use of this model to balance the load of the presses in the station to maximize the percentage of dry substances in the pressed pulp they produce. Reduced moisture of the pressed pulp improves energy efficiency of the driers which dry the pulp to be used as animal feed.