Design and Implementation of a Temperature Predictive Controller for a Dryer Plant of Cocoa Beans

In this paper we present the results of a research developed in a plant of artificial drying of cocoa beans, for the calculation of a generalized predictive controller (GPC), the same which was implemented using an embedded system based on a microcontroller. Natural and artificial drying techniques of cocoa beans are specified, the physical characteristics of the plant are detailed and the operational dynamic is determined through the linear identification of the process. The paper concludes with a comparative analysis of GPC and PID controllers implemented on the drying plant.