The use of dynamic process models for operator training

Control of production processes is increasingly becoming more important to make products of higher quality, to reduce waste of energy and materials, and to increase production flexibility. To improve the overall process performance, process operators require more insight in the behaviour of the process. Particularly, when changeovers frequently occur, or when the process often experiences disturbances, operators need to be able to understand and control the dynamic behaviour of the process. Developments in MIMO process modelling and model based control system design as well as developments in hardware have opened new perspectives for supervisory control. Model based controllers and fast real-time simulators can be implemented at the DCS level providing fast and accurate MIMO supervisory control or process simulation. The models underlying the control design can also be applied for training operators in the use of these supervisory controllers and for providing insight in the behaviour of the process