Modeling of the post combustion process in a nickel reduction furnace

Abstract

Very complex multivariable processes are carried out in multi-hearth furnaces which can only be modeled with great uncertainty. A sketch of the experiments carried out in an industrial roaster to obtain a dynamic model of the postcombustion process for automatic control design purposes is presented in this paper. The appropriate development of this process influences decisively in the achievement of a bigger efficiency and a good temperature profile. The classic validation tests produced excellent results and the model obtained represented the behavior of the process satisfactorily. This made possible the simulation of the automatic control system that will be used to maintain the temperature in the established values and to diminish the environmental contamination.