An Adaptive, Intelligent Control System for Slag Foaming

Abstract

The field of computational intelligence (CI) is primarily concerned with the development of computer systems that are capable of adapting to and exploiting information about their environments, much like organisms in natural systems are capable of doing. It is no coincidence therefore, that the field of CI relies heavily on computer techniques patterned after natural systems. Many of these techniques (including neural networks, genetic algorithms, and fuzzy logic) have demonstrated their utility in solving problems independent of other methods. However, as the systems we seek to control, design, and improve become increasingly complex, it is unlikely that any single CI technique will prove to be adequate. This paper describes an architecture that combines the three CI techniques listed above to produce process control systems suitable for effectively manipulating complex engineering systems characterized by relatively slow process dynamics. Implementation of the architecture results in an intelligent adaptive control system. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated via application to a slag foaming operation at a steel plant.