Computationally efficient dynamic modelling and simulation of simulated moving bed chromatographic processes with linear isotherms

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach for the dynamic simulation of linear chromatographic processes, in particular, for the simulated moving bed (SMB) process. The goal of this work was the development of a computationally efficient model which is needed for model-based process control. Three different modelling and simulation approaches are presented and compared: an analytical solution of the equilibrium model, a closed-form solution of model equations considering both axial dispersion and mass transfer resistance, and a numerical solution of the general rate model. The solutions are compared with respect to complexity, accuracy and computation time. The new developed closed-form solution gives a high accuracy with low computations time.