Event-driven optimal control of a thermal process of discrete parts

Considers a multi-zone furnace where the furnace contains several heating zones, which can be driven separately. Discrete parts are transported on a conveyor belt through the furnace. They have different temperatures at the entrance of the furnace and have to be heated up in a certain manner to a fixed end temperature. Further, the distances between the discrete parts are varying. If the heating procedure in the furnace is only one part of a chain of procedures, another process is needed to equalize the material flow in order to minimize the buffer store. This can be obtained by tuning the conveyor belt velocity. So an event-driven problem has to be solved, where time-continuous procedures are also of importance