Fuzzy control system for peanut roasting

Abstract A fuzzy control system was developed for continuous, cross-flow peanut roasting. A roasting kinetic model based on the combined dynamics of heat transfer and browning reactions was developed. A combination feedforward–feedback scheme was implemented in application software developed by this research group for fuzzy rule-based control. Inputs to the control system included numeric values from process sensors as well as linguistic observations by operators. The control system was tested on a pilot-scale roaster and it successfully maintained roasted peanut colour within an acceptable range despite disturbances in roaster bed depth, roasting air temperature and colour setpoint.