(499e) Automation of a Fluidized Bed Dryer Utilizing Multi-Variate near Infrared Spectra and MPC

Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) has become a great interest for process technology specially in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques as near infrared (NIR) has been studied and proven to be suited to be used in real life processes. The MPC strategy was selected because it is an advance control strategy that allows real time optimization of the process using two inputs and has been used extensively for example in the petrochemical industry. This project focused in implementing this two techniques using the knowledge acquired from studies in a real life benchtop Fluid Bed Dryer. The NIR spectrum is used to measure the moisture content of the drying particles in real time while that information is used on the MPC strategy to manipulate the inlet air flow and temperature. Real issues with the integration, location of the NIR probe, humidity prediction, and performance of the MPC along with solutions will be presented.