Dynamic process control

A method for controlling a process having a plurality of independently controllable, manipulable variables and at least one controllable variable dependent upon said independently controllable, manipulable variables, comprising:

• gathering data about said process by separately introducing a test disturbance in each of said manipulable variables and measuring the effects of said disturbances on said at least one dependent controllable variable;
• measuring the present values of said variables at a first time;
• calculating for discrete intervals of time from said gathered data about said process, said measured present values, and preselected operating constraints a first set of moves for at least said manipulable variables to obtain new values for said variables and to move said at least one dependent controllable variable towards at least one of said constraints;
• changing said process by adjusting said manipulable variables in accordance with a preselected first portion of said first set of moves to cause said process to move said at least one dependent controllable variable towards said at least one of said constraints;
• and
• measuring said present values at least at a second time, calculating at least a second set of moves, and changing said process at least in accordance with a preselected portion of said at least second set of moves.

A method of controlling a process having a plurality of independently controlled, manipulated variables and at least one controlled variable dependent on said manipulated variables, said method comprising the steps of:

• gathering data about said process by introducing test disturbances in said manipulated variables and measuring the effect of the disturbances on said controlled variable;
• measuring the values of said variables at a first time;
• calculating from said gathered data and said measured values of said variables at said first time a first set of changes in at least one of said manipulated variables such that said controlled variable is driven towards its set point without exceeding a predetermined limit;
• adjusting said manipulated variables in accordance with at least one change from said first set of calculated changes;
• measuring the values of said variables at a second time;
• calculating from said gathered data, said first set of changes and said measured values at said second time a second set of changes in at least one of said manipulated variables such that said controlled variable is driven towards its set point without exceeding a predetermined limit;
• and
• adjusting said manipulated variables in accordance with at least one change from said second set of calculated changes.