The purpose of the present study is to identify the drying cylinder model in paper plants and to analyze characteristics of process responses for changes in input variables. The model developed in this work is based on actual plant operation data and the steam pressure applied to the cylinder behaves as one the main variables. It is found that heat transfer coefficients from the condensate to the canvas could be represented as empirical relations based on heat conductivities and operation date. The effectiveness of the cylinder model is demonstrated by the measured moisture contents and web temperature. Using transfer functions derived from the cylinder model stability of the drying process is analyzed.