Multiple-objective based model predictive control of pulse jet fabric filters

With the increasingly stringent emissions regulations of fine particulates and air toxics, pulse jet fabric filters have become an attractive particul ate collection option for utilities. Despite their wide application, the pr esent control algorithm used in fabric filtration systems can best be descr ibed as rudimentary. In this paper, a model predictive control (MPC) techni que is employed owing to its distinct advantages. Unlike its conventional c ounterpart, the proposed MPC algorithm takes the economic factor into consi deration, which is formulated in a multiple-objective optimization framewor k. To avoid the local optimum, a global optimization technique is incorpora ted into the proposed MPC design. Simulation results show that the proposed multiple-objective optimization based MPC design method is especially suit able to the pulse jet fabric filtration process, where the set point change and process disturbance occur frequently.