Model-Based Evaluation of a Data-Driven Control Strategy: Application to Ibuprofen Crystallization

This work presents a methodology that relies on the application of the radial basis functions network (RBF)-based feedback control algorithms to a pharmaceutical crystallization process. Within the scope of the model-based evaluation of the proposed strategy, firstly strategies for the data treatment, data structure and the training methods reflecting the possible scenarios in the industry (Moving Window, Growing Window and Golden Batch strategies) were introduced. This was followed by the incorporation of such RBF strategies within a soft sensor application and a nonlinear predictive data-driven control application. The performance of the RBF control strategies was tested for the undisturbed cases as well as in the presence of disturbances in the process. The promising results from both RBF soft sensor control and the RBF predictive control demonstrated great potential of these techniques for the control of the crystallization process. In particular, both Moving Window and Golden Batch strategies performed the best results for an RBF soft sensor, and the Growing Window outperformed the remaining methodologies for predictive control.