Advanced process control techniques for the food industry

The proper design and application of process controllers is essential for minimizing both operating costs and out-of-specification waste products in food processing operations. In this regard, advanced process controllers may perform significantly better than classical controllers. This article describes how advanced process controllers, particularly model-based controllers, are created and discusses the design criteria used to tune these controllers in the context of controlling food processes. A number of examples are reviewed that demonstrate the feasibility of applying model-based controllers to a variety of food processes. Guidelines for selecting appropriate advanced control strategies for particular types of dynamic processes are also presented.