Control Policy for the Startup, Semi-Continuous and Continuous Operation of a Reactive Distillation Column

Abstract

Dynamic behavior of a controlled reactive distillation column for startup and continuous operation is analyzed here through simulation accounting with experimental data reported in the literature. Previous studies about simulation of column startup can be found in the literature, however no papers have been found describing the startup period of a reactive distillation column. In this work an esterification case for obtaining ethyl acetate is analyzed by assuming different startup strategies in order to achieve a minimum startup time for an specific product quality. In addition a control system based on Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) design is applied for controlling the semi- continuous and continuous stages. A special indicator is used to switch from startup control policy to the semi- continuous and continuous control strategy in order to have under automatic control the hole operation. Several preliminary simulation results are presented here by using the software package called READYS. This rigorous mathematical model is found on the conservation laws, the equilibrium relationship as well as pressure, holdup and reaction terms.