Providing a Practical Method for Automatic Start-Up of Reactive Distillation Column Using Decentralized Control of CVs Trajectory Based on Residue Curve Maps (RCM) Analysis: The Methyl Acetate Case

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I.R. IRAN

2 Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I.R. IRAN

Abstract

The primary purpose of this feasibility study is to use an appropriate decentralized control configuration (based on PID controllers) to automatically navigate the startup trajectory
of a reactive distillation column in the presence of azeotropic points. The purpose of this article is to show how a conceptual understanding of the Reactive Residual Curve Map (R-RCM) may be utilized to define a trajectory for directing the control variables during startup. The results demonstrate that steering the startup operation using a two-point temperature control structure with the feed rate of the reactants specified as the control manipulator is more efficient than other structures. Examining the various startup strategies shows several steady-state conditions at the end of the start-up time. This is because only a unique approach will achieve the desired steady-state condition. According to
the findings, the controller tuning parameters play a significant impact in steering the startup trajectory. For this case study, the gain and integral time values for both controllers should be approximately one-third and three times, respectively, of the values found under normal operating conditions.

Highlights

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