Thesis

Model based cross-directional monitoring and control of plastic film thickness

Creator
Rights statement
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2010
Thesis identifier
  • T12592
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • The main topics of this research are modelling, fault monitoring, and cross-directional control of a plastic film manufacturing process operated by DuPont Teijin Films Ltd. The developed model is of high dimension and built using the first-principles of chemical and mechanical engineering, such as equations for mass transfer, heat transfer, and the flow of viscous fluids in addition to empirical knowledge related to the behaviour of polymer. The model in turn provides a safe off-line platform for developing new cross-directional control and fault monitoring systems. As with other sheet-forming processes, such as papermaking and steel rolling, the plastic film manufacturing process employs large arrays of actuators spread across a continuously moving sheet to control the cross-directional profiles of key product properties. In plastic manufacturing, the main control property is finished product thickness profile as measured by a scanning gauge downstream from the actuators. The role of the cross-directional control system is to maintain the measured cross-directional profiles of plastic properties on target. The second part of this research develops a novel cross-directional controller, which is in turn demonstrated by application to the first-principles model. Fault monitoring systems can be broadly classified into 3 categories: model-based, data-driven, and knowledge-based. The third part of this research introduces a novel model-based fault monitoring system. The system is demonstrated by application to both the first-principles model and industrial data extracted from the real-life plant.
Resource Type
Note
  • This thesis was previously held under moratorium from 23 September 2010 to 23 September 2015.
DOI
Date Created
  • 2010
Former identifier
  • 814419

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