The use of process models to control and optimize pultrusion-type processes

摘要

Recent advances in composite process modeling ingeneral and model-based, predictive control in particular can beused to overcome some of the obstacles to achieving the optimumperformance of pultrusion and injected pultrusion processes. Dueto the continuous nature of these processes, significant economicincentives exist for pushing in the process towards maximumproductivity while meeting the quality specifications.In this article we demonstrate how on-line process models can bedeveloped and used to overcome the limitations imposed by the lackof adequate sensors to monitor key processing variables such asquality and exit cure condition. One of the added attractions ofthe model-predictive control strategy is the ability it providesoperators to view the forecasted behavior of the process.