Abstract
Dimethyl ether (DME), derived from methanol, has been issued as an alternative to diesel and LPG. This study will continue the research of an optimized process control design for DME purification plants, specifically the methanol purification process. This way, water can be separated, and the main product, methanol, can be recycled for DME synthesis. A setpoint-based linear model of a methanol–water purification system has been developed with four controlled variables (CV) with objectives to; maintain a separated liquid water stream in the bottom stage (Stage 30) of the distillation column for methanol–water separation at 11.22%, keep the purified liquid methanol at a condenser at 58.81 °C and 49.96% of level, and the last CV is the cooler in the distillate stream, to keep the purified methanol’s top product at 40.75 °C. To complete the model, a first order plus dead time (FOPDT) disturbance model is created against the inlet temperature and flow rate of the feed, the major cause of disturbances in the industry. Using a traditional proportional integral controller connected to each controlled variable, a multi-loop control system is formed with optimization and compared to the disturbance rejection of multivariable model predictive control (MMPC). The final improvement against the feed temperature and flow for CV1, CV2, CV3, and CV4 is shown by, respectively, Integral Absolute Error (IAE) values of 79.49%, 99.90%, 100%, and 99.99% and Integral Square Error (ISE) values of 97.1%, 100%, 99.99%, and 100%.
Highlights
In 2018, the energy consumption in Indonesia reached a total of 936.33 trillion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), with 64.46 million BOE for LPG and 450.78 million BOE for fuel [1].Energy demands and supply projections for 2019–2050 target induction stoves and Dimethyl ether (DME) utilization for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) substitution
This study aims to enhance the centralized control of the methanol purification process into a decentralized control, in which each of manipulated variables has its controller, creating a multi-loop scheme rather than a single direct control of a multivariable process
The disturbances that have been identified in this system are the instability of temperature and flow rate in the distillation column
Summary
Energy demands and supply projections for 2019–2050 target induction stoves and DME utilization for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) substitution. DME features easy volatility, no toxicity, no carcinogenicity, good water and alcohol solubility, and no pollution it is miscible with many resins and solvents. DME, similar to LPG, can be liquefied at moderate pressure. With a high cetane number, DME is clean-burning and sulfur-free, with extremely low particulates [2,3]. DME is derived from methanol from coal, natural gas, organic waste, and biomass [4].
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