Abstract
The grade change operations In paper mills exhibit inherent nonlinear dynamic characteristics. For this reason, the conventional model predictive control techniques based on linear process models are not adequate for the grade change operations. In this paper, a bilinear model for the nonlinear grade change processes was presented first and optimal input variables were calculated by using one-step-ahead predictive control method. Numerical simulations showed that the control performance lied within acceptable range and that the bilinear model predictive control scheme was highly promising control strategy for the grade change operations.