Optimal Control of Parallel Pressure Filtration Systems

Dynamical models exist for the non-complex membrane filtration process which has enabled full scale optimal control development. Parallel pressure filtration systems do have similarities with membrane filtration, but lack models suitable for optimal control and they operate as multiple parallel units and must be treated as a part of a larger plant. A simplified optimal control concept is presented and compared with optimal control of membrane filtration. The optimal control does not use constant filter run cycle times as previous works on membrane filtration, but is based on true feedback control and is capable of finding the optimal run cycle time in varying conditions. Plant-wide control is also addressed in the simulated case example presented in the paper.