An analysis of human decision-making in cement kiln control and the implications for automation

This paper describes the investigation into the control skills of cement kiln operators with a view to modelling these skills by a fuzzy algorithm. The operators' strategies were studied by observing and making a detailed record of the operators' behaviour as they controlled the kiln. Analysis of the observational record suggested that many aspects of the operators' control behaviour could be modelled by a threshold logic controller. An improvement to the threshold model was attempted by comparing the operators' performance with the performance produced by a set of prescriptive control rules. Although the prescriptive rules were found to be an inadequate model of the kiln operators, analysis indicated that the rules had the potential to produce better kiln control. The implementation of the prescriptive rules as a fuzzy controller is discussed.