Self-tuning control of egg drying in spouted bed using the GPC algorithm

A spouted bed is used to dry many and different materials ranging from granules to pastes and suspensions. This work presents an implementation and tests of an advanced control strategy on a spouted bed dryer. Water was used as the ideal paste for tests. An adaptive control algorithm GPC (Generalized Predictive Control) was implemented. A microcomputer was used to maintain humidity and temperature set points of air in the dryer by manipulating electric power of heat exchanger and paste feed flow rate. Instrumentation was set-up with different sensors, interface and final control elements for operation. Stability and performance analysis of the control strategy was accomplished. A robust stable controller was obtained which had also encouraged us to extend the investigation of this control strategy to the drying of other pastes.