Nonlinear process model-based self-optimizing control of complex crude distillation column

Abstract

Publisher Summary The complex crude distillation column (crude distillation tower) is a basic technological unit in the petrochemical industry for benzene, kerosene, diesel oil, and mazut production. The maintaining of its optimal steady state is very important task because of the economical benefit. The product quality control is the difficult problem due to the multivariable process nature and interactions among the control loops. This chapter discusses the control system based upon a nonlinear process model. The self-optimizing control strategy is used for the maintenance of the optimal steady state of a complex crude distillation column. The optimal distillation operation under unmeasurable feed composition disturbances is considered. The stabilization of the certain relationship among pump around streams in the sense of vector criterion provides the optimal operation of the crude distillation tower within the minimum and acceptable losses.