Case: Tuning the controls in the drying section at paper machine
by Vipetec Analysis™ and Optimization
Challenge in the production process
The performance of steam control needed to be improved because there was too large deviation in quality variables. That caused extra costs and reduced quality in paper production.
Vipetec’s solutions
At first Vipetec experts analyzed the performance of control loops in the drying section using Vipetec’s analysis tools. Next, they gave recommendations for the maintenance actions of actuators and valves. Finally optimization was done, where Vipetec experts tuned the loops to perform better considering the cross-correlations between them.
Achieved results
Thanks to the project, the 2-sigma machine direction deviations were reduced by an average of
- 29% in moisture
- 10% in basis weight
in whole operating area of the paper machine.
Note: No other development actions were taken during the tuning project and no quality controllers were tuned.
Quality optimized