Non-linear control of a gypsum kiln using Volterra models

This paper presents an application of a model-based nonlinear controller to a gypsum kiln, which has been modelled by a second-order Volterra model. The behavior of this process is affected by non-linear effects caused by the existence of disturbances and the coupling among several variables. The use of a second-order Volterra model is an appropriate solution to describe the process dynamics. This also allows the use of a nonlinear control law based on the internal model control principle. The controller is very simple to implement since it is composed of a conventional linear controller augmented by an auxiliary loop. This work shows some simulations of this controller which has been tuned using real data and is intended to improve the linear controller previously tested on the plant.