This paper presents a new intelligent control method based on intelligent characteristic model for a kind of complicated plant with nonlinearities and uncertainties, whose controlled output variables cannot be measured on line continuously. The basic idea of this method is to utilize intelligent techniques to form the characteristic model of the controlled plant according to the principle of combining the characteristics of the plant with the control requirements, and then to present a new design method of intelligent controller based on this characteristic model. First, the modeling principles and expression of the intelligent characteristic model are presented. Then based on description of the intelligent characteristic model, the design principles and methods of the intelligent controller composed of several open-loops and closed-loops sub controllers with qualitative and quantitative information are given. Finally, the application of this method in alumina concentration control in the real aluminum electrolytic process is introduced. It is proved in practice that the above methods not only are easy to implement in engineering design but also avoid the trial-and-error of general intelligent controllers. It has taken better effect in the following application: achieving long-term stable control of low alumina concentration and increasing the controlled ratio of anode effect greatly from 60% to 80%.
