Introduction: Digital twins are becoming a powerful tool to enhance industrial processes worldwide. This paper proposes a model for the creation of industrial processes’ digital twins using a steam distillation process for essential oil extraction as a case study.
Case Description: A grey box modeling is suggested combining a machine learning based model with physical modeling to improve the process. Real time simulation and a hybrid control strategy are used, linked to reinforcement learning and proportional integral derivative control, focusing on the yield increase and optimization. Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence enhancements were suggested.
Discussion and Evaluation: Digital twins, in combination with Artificial Intelligence can be of great help to support companies with the decision-making challenges. Furthermore, some benefits that Artificial Intelligence can bring to the process were enlightened. Computer Vision approaches were also discussed.
Conclusions: A creation method is elaborated to support other applications of digital twins in industrial processes in the future. In order to apply it to different processes, generalization capabilities must be proved.