Method and device for controlling an essentially continuous process

Abstract

A method and a device for controlling a process ( ), having at least two sub-processes ( ), by tracking, processing and correcting variables for the product, the production means and/or any process media throughout the process line. The process flow for the first sub-process ( ) is divided into slices, each slice representing a specific volume of process flow. At least some of the measured and sampled variable values are related to its specific slice volume. Any variable value obtained is processed using a control and processing, unit ( ) with means for receiving, information on variable values on-line, means for presenting ( ) the process flow through the production units, means for dividing the process flow into slices, means for processing a variable value obtained, including means for relating, the variable value to is specific slice volume, means to develop one or more multivariate models based on variable values for a multiple of slice volumes and means to combine the multivariate model with a processed variable value for a specific slice volume to predict a variable value and/or a quality variable for subsequent second sub-process ( ). Corrective actions are executed in the subsequent second sub-process ( ) based on a processed variable value from the first sub-process ( ) using, actuating, means ( ) for execution of corrective action.