Application areas

Polymer industry Development of dynamic models of polymer systems (PP, E-PVC), including chain length distribution and particle size distribution. State estimation and optimal control of both continuous and batch reactor. Analysis of attainable performance under LQG control. The work has been supported by Statoil, Norsk Hydro, and Dow Chemicals.

Control of PM6 -- before and after introduction of MPC

Paper industry Development of control relevant model of paper machine PM6 at Norske Skog in Halden, Norway. Development of state estimator and MPC. The solution was implemented in cooperation with the company Prediktor. The work has been supported by NFR and Norske Skog.

Particulate processes Development of population balance model of particle size distribution in the Elkem Silgrain^® process. Estimation of parameters to fit the model to experimental data. Design of a passivity based control strategy for the system. Development of process simulator using MATLAB. The work has been supported by NFR and Elkem.

Biological Wastewater Treatment Application of biological wastewater library in Modelica for the modeling of laboratory and industrial wastewater treatment systems. Estimation of parameters and states. Comparison of control strategies for the system, including an on-off MPC solution.

Soft sensor for level in oil/gas separator Development of soft sensor for oil/gas separator. Calibration of model using pressure and radar sensors based on experimental data. The work has been supported by Halliburton.

Metal solidification Development and comparison of dynamic models of metal solidification. Comparison of various state estimation algorithms for nonlinear systems. Development of control strategy. The work has been supported by Elkem Solar.

Co-generation and building climate Development of a Modelica library for climate in buildings. Development of model for co-generation unit based on biofuel in internal combustion engine. State and parameter estimation using nonlinear state estimation algorithms. Development of control strategy for building/co-generation system.

Monocrystalline silicon production The Czochralski process is a batch process for producing monocrystalline materials, e.g. silicon which is used in solar wafers. In order to produce a product within specifications, model based control and monitoring is believed to be of importance. The work is supported by Østfold University College and NorSun.

Roasting and desulphurization Xstrata Nikkelverk runs a Cu/Ni Fluidized-Bed Roaster with necessary desulphurization section. It is of interest to develop a dynamic model that is suitable for a hardware-in-the-loop training simulator, and which can also be used for design of an improved control system. The work is supported by Xstrata Nikkelverk.

District heating With the current interest in heat recovery and renewable energy, systems for district heating are of interest. In this work, the optimal operation of district heating is studied. The work is supported by Østfold University College.

Biogas reactors With the current interest in renewable energy, it is of interest to study model based techniques for control of biogas reactors. Of core interest is the possibilities for distributed production of biogas using low cost reactor systems in both industrialized and less industrialized societies. It is believed that the development of suitably instrumented systems with control structures that are advanced/model based, yet simple to maintain, is a critical success factor.

Research Personnel

Current personnel consists of Prof. Bernt Lie, PhD students Mirnes Alic, Finn Haugen, Magnus Komperød, Shusil Sharma, Juan I. Videla.

Cooperation

Current and past partners have been: Statoil, Norsk Hydro, Dow, Norske Skog, Prediktor, Elkem, Halliburton, SINTEF Byggforsk, NorSun, Xstrata.

PhD theses

• Damslora, André Johan (1998). Optimisation based control of batch emulsion polymerisation of vinyl chloride. Dr.ing. thesis 1998:29, NTNU-HiT, Trondheim. ISBN 82-471-0224-2. Disputation at Telemark University College, May 11 1998. Main supervisor: Bernt Lie.
• Hauge, Tor Anders (2003). Roll-out of Model Based Control with Application to Paper Machines. Dr.ing. thesis 2003:31, NTNU-HiT, Trondheim. ISBN 82-471-5581-8, ISSN 0809-103X. Disputation at Telemark University College, May 8 2003. Main supervisor: Bernt Lie.

• Dueñas Díez, Marta (2004). Population balance modeling and passivity-based control of particulate processes, applied to the Silgrain^® process. Doctoral Theses at NTNU-HiT 2004:35, Trondheim. ISBN 82-471-6276-8 (printed ver.), ISBN 82-471-6274-1 (electronic ver.), ISSN 1503-8181. Disputation at Telemark University College, May 28 2004. Main supervisor: Bernt Lie.

• Chai, Qian (2008). Modeling, Estimation, and Control of Biological Wastewater Treatment Plants. Doctoral Theses at NTNU 2008:108 at HiT, Porsgrunn. ISBN 978-82-471-8155-3 (printed ver.), ISBN 978-82-471-8169-0 (electronic ver.), ISSN 1503-8181. Disputation at Telemark University College, May 20 2008. Main supervisor: Bernt Lie.
• Skeie, Nils-Olav (2008). Soft Sensors for Level Estimation. Doctoral Theses at NTNU 2008:102 at HiT, Porsgrunn. ISBN 978-82-471-4462-6 (printed ver.), ISBN 978-82-471-4476-3 (electronic ver.), ISSN 1503-8181. Disputation at Telemark University College, October 16 2008. Main supervisor: Bernt Lie.
• Furenes, Beathe (2009). Model Based Control of Solidification. Doctoral Theses at NTNU 2009:228 at HiT, Porsgrunn. ISBN 978-82-471-1860-3 (printed ver.), ISBN 978-82-471-1861-0 (electronic ver.), ISSN 1503-8181. Disputation at Telemark University College, December 9 2009. Main supervisor: Bernt Lie.

Selected Publications

• Lie, B., Di Ruscio, D., Ergon, R., Glemmestad, B., Halstensen, M., Haugen, F., Mylvaganam, S., Skeie, N.-O., Winkler, D. (2009). "Modeling, Identification and Control at Telemark University College". Invited paper for Modeling, Identification and Control, Vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 133--147. ISSN 0332-7353.
• Dueñas Díez, M., Ydstie, B. E., Fjeld, M., and Lie, B. (2008). "Inventory control of particulate processes". Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 32, pp. 46--67.
• Furenes, B., and Lie, B. (2006). "Simulation and Control of a Liquid Metal Column". Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, Vol. 14, no. 8, November, pp. 1112--1120.
• Sarmiento Ferrero, C., Chai, Q., Dueñas Díez, M., Amrani, S.H., and Lie, B. (2006). "Systematic Analysis of Parameter Identifiability for Improved Fitting of a Biological Wastewater Model to Experimental Data", Modeling, Identification and Control, Vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 219--238.
• Furenes, B., and Lie, B. (2006). "Using Event Location in Finite-Difference Methods for Phase-Change Problems". Numerical Heat Transfer Part B: Fundamentals, Vol. 50, No. 2. (August 2006), pp. 143-155.
• Dueñas Díez, M., Fjeld, M., Andersen, E., and Lie, B. (2006). "Validation of a compartmental population balance model of an industrial leaching process: the Silgrain^{®} process". Chemical Engineering Science, Volume 61, no. 1, pp. 229--245.
• Hauge, T.A., Slora, R., and Lie, B. (2005). "Application and roll-out of infinite horizon MPC employing a nonlinear mechanistic model to paper machines". Journal of Process Control, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 201--213.
• Dueñas Díez, M., Ausland, G., Fjeld M., and Lie, B. (2002). "Simulation of a Hydrometallurgical Leaching Reactor modeled as a DAE system." Modeling, Identification and Control, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 93--116.
• Hauge, T.A. and Lie, B. (2002). "Paper Machine Modeling at Norske Skog Saugbrugs: A Mechanistic Approach." Modeling, Identification and Control, 23, no. 1, pp. 27--52.
• Lie, B., and Himmelblau, D.M. (2000). "Catalyst Deactivation: Control Relevance of Model Assumptions." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 1242--1248.
• Damslora, A.J., Lie, B., and Sælid, S. (1998). "Reduction of PVC batch time by optimal control of free radical concentration." In R. Berber (1998), editor: Nonlinear Model Based Control, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.
• Dahl, T. Hashemi-Ahmady, A., and Lie, B. (1997). "Modeling and simulation of phase equilibrium in dynamic systems." Modeling, Identification and Control, Vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 137--154.
• Lie, B. (1995). "Attainable Performance in LQG control." In R. Berber (1995), editor: Methods of Model Based Process Control, Kluwer Academic Publishers.
• Lie, B. (1993). "A comparison of strategies for the control of a polypropene reactor." Modeling, Identification and Control, Vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 121--131.