Method of controlling the drying of cellulose pulp in a drying step of a pulp production process

A method of controlling the drying of cellulose pulp in a drying step of a pulp production process of a pulp production plant, the pulp production process further including a cooking step, an oxygen delignification step, and a bleaching step which are to process the cellulose pulp prior to the drying of the cellulose pulp in the drying step, the method comprising:

• measuring, using at least one sensor located in the pulp production plant, a plurality of process parameters for a portion of the cellulose pulp in at least one of the cooking step, the oxygen delignification step, and the bleaching step as the portion of the cellulose pulp is being processed in the at least one of the cooking step, the oxygen delignification step, and the bleaching step;
• calculating, by a controller of the pulp production plant, based on the process parameters, a drying predictive index indicative of a characteristic of the portion of the cellulose pulp;
• determining, by the controller, based on the drying predictive index, at least one drying parameter for drying of the portion of the cellulose pulp;
• and
• controlling, by the controller, the drying of the portion of the cellulose pulp using the drying parameter as the portion of the cellulose pulp is being dried in the drying step.