Fuzzy Control of an Electrostatic Separation Process

Process control is one of the most promising fields of application of fuzzy systems theory. This paper aims at analyzing the particularities of fuzzy logic as applied to the control of a standard insulation-metal electrostatic separator. The optimum operation of such an installation requires the adjustment of a control variable: the high voltage applied to its electrode system, so as to maximize the quantities of high-purity insulation and metal products collected after separation from the input granular mixture. The input and the output variables were fuzzified in accordance with the authorspsila expertise in the field of electrostatic separation. A matrix correlated the applied high voltage to the state of the output variables. The control algorithm was tested by numerical simulation, using the mathematical model established with the design of experiments methodology.