A Mathematical Framework for Spatio-Temporal Control in Industrial Drying

We introduce two models of industrial drying - a simplified one-equation model, and a detailed three-equation model. The purpose of the simplified model is rigorous validation of numerical methods for PDE-constrained optimal control. The purpose of the detailed model is to be able to predict and control the behaviour of an industrial disk drier. For both models, we introduce a fully validated numerical method to compute the optimal source term to maintain the outlet temperature as close as possible to the set-point temperature. By performing simulations using realistic parameters for industrial driers, we illustrate potential applications of the method.