Simulation of a computer-controlled dehydrator

Abstract

Experimental data that can be obtained during investigation of a real system in operation, under different working conditions and different input parameters (combined with different control parameters), are usually not sufficient. Unsuitable working conditions can cause losses during production (which cannot be afforded), while some of the input parameters (like moisture content of the input material) are not under the control of the investigator. A suitable way to avoid this problem is to use a simulation program in order to explore different regimes and to obtain the optimal one. Investigations can be carried out using simulation programs in order to ascertain the influence of different control parameters on the behavior of the entire system, and to obtain control parameters that give the smallest deviations of a certain variable from the nominal value. It is also possible to obtain the values of control parameters causing nonstability of the system. The developed simulation program for the control system of a dehydrator includes a model of the drying process, a model describing the behavior of different functional blocks of the dehydrator (including the inertia of the system), simulation of the control of drying agent temperature at the dryer exit as a function of the fuel flow rate, and simulation of the fuel consumption as well as the dried material production. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.