ABSTRACT

With the aim to retrieve as much information as possible from the production plant to process this information with information processing methods, evaluate, and use it for optimum process control, modern support tools were selected and combined in four levels to form a modular autonomous package. In the first level - the database - userspecific process data is acquired online and offline, and also gathered from library data from reference installations and literature evaluations. Software programs in the second level select data corresponding to the aim of the process control, condense it and normalize it. The actual knowledge retrieval is realized in the 3rd level. Here, knowledge is extracted from data conditioned in level 2 using process analysis, modeling, simulation and optimization. The aim of the knowledge implemented in the 4th level is to maximize the costeffectiveness, increase the operational reliability, quality assurance and fulfill the demands relating to environmental issues. Experience gained from process analysis and process optimization with examples from the Pulp Industry are reported.