Dynamic modeling, efficiency analysis, and hierarchical control of industrial airborne pulp dryers, TAPPI Journal October 2026

 


Application: The proposed model provides mill engineers and researchers with a control-oriented framework for evaluating moisture regulation, airflow and pressure management, and energy performance in industrial airborne pulp dryers. It can also support controller tuning, operating-point optimization, and future plant data-based model validation and digital twin development.

TAPPI conference proceedings and presentations, technical papers, and publication articles provide technical and management data and solutions on topics covering the Pulp, Paper, Tissue, Corrugated Packaging, Flexible Packaging, Nanotechnology and Converting Industries.

Simply select the quantity, add to your cart and your conference paper, presentation or article will be available for immediate download.

Author: José M. Campos-Salazar and Jorge Gonzalez-Salazar
Dynamic modeling, efficiency analysis, and hierarchical cont
ABSTRACT: Industrial airborne pulp drying is governed by strongly coupled moisture transport, heat transfer, psychrometric behavior, airflow distribution, pressure dynamics, and fan operation. A nonlinear multi-zone dynamic model was formulated to represent these interactions through coupled mass and energy balances, pressure-driven deck-to-deck airflow, centrifugal-fan dynamics, and through-thickness moisture and temperature transport. Overall and thermal efficiencies, specific energy consumption, and specific moisture evaporation ratio (SMER) were incorporated for energetic assessment. A hierarchical direct synthesis methodology (DSM), comprising moisture•temperature and airflow•fan speed cascade loops with chamber-pressure regulation, was evaluated against proportionalintegral- derivative (PID) control and model predictive control (MPC) benchmarks. The MATLAB simulations of a six-zone dryer predicted progressive moisture reduction toward 0.120 kg H2O/kg dry pulp, overall efficiency near 0.60, thermal efficiency near 0.61, and SMER of approximately 0.95-0.96 kg H2O/kWh. The DSM provided the lowest accumulated moisture-tracking error and smooth control action, while PID control gave comparable fast loop regulation. The current MPC implementation exhibited poorer moisture•thermal tracking, indicating the need for further predictive model refinement and systematic tuning. The formulation provides a controloriented basis for subsequent parameter identification and industrial validation.
0.00

New Releases

TAPPI PRESS Catalog eBook 2026


Experience the Power of Publications in 2026


Open
 

Kraft Recovery Boilers, Third Edition  


Sponsored by the Recovery Boiler Program R&D Subcommittee of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and published by TAPPI Press.


Purchase
 

Handbook For Pulp and Paper Technologists (The SMOOK Book), Fourth Edition

The best-selling text to introduce the entire technology of pulp and paper manufacture.

Purchase
 

Guidelines for Safe Assessment and Operation of Yankee Dryers  


A project of the Yankee Dryer Safety & Reliability Committee.

Purchase
 

Check our newest additions.


TAPPI Press offers some of the most in-depth resources and references for the forest products and related industries. 

See More
   
 

Available for Purchase – Conference Proceedings


TAPPI maintains a record of key conference papers, presentations, and other conference publications, available for purchase in a variety of formats.

See More