Plantwide control of a complex process involving a reactive distillation column

Abstract

In this study, several plantwide control structures for a multiunit process including a reactive distillation column are proposed. The process studied contains two reaction and three separation steps, two recycle streams, and six components. The second reaction of the process takes place in a reactive distillation column, while the first reaction occurs in a continuous stirred tank reactor. Flow control of a stream in each recycle loop is required for base-level regulatory control of the process in a reasonable settling time. The quality of the first product is improved using a dual-temperature control in the second distillation column. The product quality in the reactive column is improved using a three-temperature control structure.