Model-based temperature control in ovens

The performance of an oven cavity is improved by implementing more advanced control algorithms to the unit. This improvement is necessary to cope with the more stringent requirements of the food market. It is shown with experimental results that the dynamic behavior of the oven cavity is modified significantly through the implementation of a model-based tuned P.I.D. controller. For this purpose, a mathematical model representing the main temperature dynamics of the oven cavity, is identified and validated. Afterwards, this mathematical model is used for tuning of the controller parameters, which allows a fast, safe and inexpensive off-line search for the optimal parameter set. In addition, the effect of practical constraints such as bounds and discretization effects can be examined quite easily. The model-based tuning approach for temperature control of an oven cavity is found to be successful. The application also illustrates the use of advanced measurement and control hardware and software. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.