Abstract: System and method for producing paper that employ an apparatus for measuring electrical characteristics of a fibrous composition. The apparatus comprises a plurality of conductivity (or resistance) detectors each comprising a sensor that is sensitive to the conductivity (or resistance) and the proximity of the material (e.g., fibrous composition) to the sensor. Measurements from the apparatus relate to the zeta potential of the fibrous materials in the composition. The zeta potential profiles corresponding optimized configurations of the sheetmaking process can be employed to monitor and control the process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system, such as a sheetmaking system, including identifying a decoupling gain matrix by comparing an actuator control vector against a measured output vector and processing an error vector to update the decoupling gain matrix. The dynamic components of one dynamic mode in the system are separated from that of other dynamic modes such that the input-output characteristic of the process may be treated as independent channels.