On modelling and control of a rotary sugar dryer

This paper deals with the problem of fitting a set of data collected on a r otary sugar dryer, by means of a first-principles mathematical model. Owing to the highly constrained structure of the model, it was discovered that t he sugar dryer is characterised by two different working conditions: the "s tandard-mode" (characterised by a non-zero sugar moisture content), and the "overdried-mode" (namely a condition where the sugar moisture content is a lmost nil, and the evaporative phenomenon becomes negligible). On the basis of this two-stage behaviour, an accurate fit between the model and the mea sured data can be achieved, and an innovative control strategy can be drawn . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.