Batch processes are commonly characterized by uneven trajectories due to the existence of batch-to-batch variations. The batch end-product quality is usually measured at the end of these uneven trajectories. It is necessary to align the time differences for both the measured trajectories and the batch end-product quality in order to implement statistical process monitoring and control schemes. ...

The selection of raw materials affects the rate of batch-to-glass conversion. In all-electric melters, foam under the batch blanket limits the heat flux from the molten glass, thus slowing the rate of melting. Our study, in which we compare the melting behaviors of three batches formulated to vitrify high-alumina high-level waste, shows that a slowly dissolving refractory component can cause ex...

An integrated batch-to-batch control and within batch re-optimisation control strategy for batch processes using neural network models is presented in this paper. In order to overcome the difficulties in developing detailed mechanistic models, neural network models are developed from process operation data. Due to model-plant mismatches and unknown disturbances, the optimal control policy calcu...

Gene expression microarrays are widely used to better understand the complex biological mechanisms inside cells. One of the main obstacles of applying statistical learning algorithms to microarray data is the large gap between the number of features (p) and the number of available instances (n), i.e., the “large p, small n” challenge. This thesis explores two ways to deal with this challenge. O...

We consider the problem of minimizing the makespan(Cmax) on m identical parallel batch processing machines. The batch processing machine can process up to B jobs simultaneously. The jobs that are processed together form a batch, and all jobs in a batch start and complete at the same time. For a batch of jobs, the processing time of the batch is equal to the largest processing time among the job...