Nonlinear Multivariable Grade Change Control of Paper Machines, 2008 PAPERCON Conference

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Many paper machines produce multiple grades of paper and must therefore transition between operating points on a regular basis. This transition is referred to as a “grade change”, the objective of which is to minimize off-spec production. This is, however, not a trivial task as one has to contend with both the multivariable and nonlinear aspects of the process. This paper presents a new generation of grade change control which utilizes both multivariable model predictive control (MPC) and first-principles models to address these challenges. The flexibility and operation of the new grade change control is explained in detail, and illustrated in a real-life test using a high fidelity paper machine simulator.