Development of Multi-Actuator Monitoring and Control Device in Spray Drying System

This study addresses the growing demand for natural fruit and vegetable extract powders by developing a multi-actuator monitoring and control device for a spray drying system aimed at optimizing the drying process and improving product quality. The system features four adjustable heating zones, each controlled via a proportional (P) control method. Extensive sensor calibration was conducted using four K-type thermocouples, which demonstrated a strong linear correlation with reference measurements, achieving average error percentages ranging from 0.1992% to 0.3159%. The tuning of the proportional gain (K<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">p</inf>) values resulted in optimal settings of 10, 14, 24, and 45 for temperature setpoints of 100°C, 200°C, 300°C, and 400°C, respectively. This closed-loop control system effectively adjusts heater temperatures in response to deviations from desired setpoints, minimizing overshoot and ensuring stability. Additionally, the integration of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform facilitates real-time monitoring, enhancing operational efficiency and adaptability. Overall, the findings indicate that the developed spray drying system has significant potential for enhancing process efficiency and product quality in industrial applications, providing a robust solution for the challenges faced in food processing technologies.