The　smelting　of　non-ferrous　metals　produces　substantial　quantities　of　sulfur　dioxide　(SO　(Formula　presented.))-laden　flue　gas,　which　is　seriously　harmful　to　environment　and　humans.　To　improve　the　conversion　ratio　of　SO　(Formula　presented.)　and　minimize　environmental　pollution,　controlling　converter　inlet　temperature　during　acid　production　has　proven　to　be　an　efficient　approach.　However,　unsteadiness　of　smelting　procedure　leads　to　frequent　changes　in　the　concentration　of　SO　(Formula　presented.),　which　affects　the　catalytic　conversion　of　SO　(Formula　presented.)　and　the　production　of　sulfuric　acid.　To　regulate　converter　inlet　temperature,　a　proposed　method　of　multi-model　predictive　control　is　introduced.　First,　working　conditions　are　divided　and　characterized　according　to　the　range　of　SO　(Formula　presented.)　concentration.　Then,　the　mathematical　model　is　established　for　each　working　condition　and　the　model　predictive　controller　is　designed.　Finally,　an　effective　switching　mechanism　is　established　to　realize　smooth　switching　under　different　working　conditions　and　closed-loop　control　of　the　whole　system.　Through　simulation　validation,　compared　with　traditional　single-model　predictive　controllers　and　multi-model　PID　controllers,　the　proposed　approach　demonstrates　improved　transient　performance　and　steady-state　performance.　Simulation　outcomes　clearly　highlight　the　superiority　of　the　proposed　algorithm.　©　2024　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.