DIGITAL COMPUTER CONTROL OF GLASS MELTERS USING LINEAR OPTIMAL CONTROL THEORY.

The manufacture of fiber glass is a complex process by which powdered raw material is transformed into fine glass filaments. Conventional single-input single-output control techniques are adequate for many phases of such processes, however, accurate glass temperature control in large glass melters presents a complex problem not easily overcome with traditional techniques. This paper describes a method for controlling glass temperatures at a multiplicity of points within a large melter. A system model is computed from historical data on system performance. A feedback control law is generated using optimal control theory. Computer hardware, software, and control functions are detailed.