Focusing on the modeling, control, simulation, and diagnosis of complex industrial systems, this book contains a collection of papers that have been developed under the aegis of ANIPLA (the national automation association of Italy), which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. Emphasis is placed on the real-time monitoring and control of process plants and energy systems and on the application of innovative approaches ranging from the predictive control of a gasoline engine, through fuzzy inference applied to quality control in the paper industry and up to innovative load shedding and demand management in national electrical grids. Part of the ISA/O3neida series, this book will be of interest to practitioners within the automation field, particularly those focused on process control and energy systems. It will also be of interest to academics and students seeking an overview of current approaches in this field or looking for detailed treatment of any of the issues covered by the individual chapters.
More than forty authors from countries around the world have contributed to the production of this unique book and O3neida thanks them, one and all, for their strong collaboration in producing this excellent compendium and for their continuing contribution to the advancement of process control and optimization.