An experimental study for property control in a continuous styrene polymerization reactor using a polynomial ARMA model

By using a multivariable nonlinear model predictive controller (NLMPC), the control experiments for the monomer conversion and the weight-average molecular weight are conducted in a continuous styrene polymerization reactor. Instead of a complex first-principles model, a polynomial auto-regressive moving average model (ARMA) is used to describe the nonlinear behavior of the polymerization reactor. The pseudorandom multilevel input signals mounted on the jacket inlet temperature and the feed flow rate are applied to the polymerization reaction system to identify a polynomial ARMA model. In the experiments of identification and control, the monomer conversion and the weight-average molecular weight are measured by on-line densitometer and viscometer with appropriate correlations. The on-line measurements are found to be in good agreement with the off-line analysis by the gravimetry and the gel permeation chromatography. Since a polynomial ARMA model is expected to give a higher order objective function of input variables, we employ the extended Kalman filter based NLMPC scheme to reduce the computational requirement in the control experiments. The NLMPC based on the polynomial ARMA model is found to perform satisfactorily for the control of the polymer properties during a grade-transition period as well as under the steady-state operation.     

Nonlinear predictive control using multi-rate sampling

A nonlinear predictive control (NLPC) strategy based on a nonlinear, lumped parameter model of the process is developed in this paper. A constrained optimization approach is used to estimate unmeasured state variables and load disturbances. Additional model/process mismatch is handled by using an additive output term which is equivalent to the Internal Model Control approach. Similar to linear predictive control methods, an optimal sequence of future control moves is determined in order to minimize an objective function based on a desired output trajectory, subject to manipulated variable constraints (absolute and velocity). Deadtime is explicitly included in the model formulation, giving NLPC the same deadtime compensation feature of linear model-predictive techniques. The multi-rate sampling nature of most chemical processes is also used to improve estimates of process disturbances. Infrequent composition measurements in conjunction with frequent temperature measurements are used to improve the “inferential” control of the composition in a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR).     

流化床反应器中气相丙烯聚合反应的动力学和预测控制(英文)

A two-phase dynamic model, describing gas phase propylene polymerization in a fluidized bed reactor, was used to explore the dynamic behavior and process control of the polypropylene production rate and reactor temperature. The open loop analysis revealed the nonlinear behavior of the polypropylene fluidized bed reactor, jus- tifying the use of an advanced control algorithm for efficient control of the process variables. In this case, a central- ized model predictive control （MPC） technique was implemented to control the polypropylene production rate and reactor temperature by manipulating the catalyst feed rate and cooling water flow rate respectively. The corre- sponding MPC controller was able to track changes in the setpoint smoothly for the reactor temperature and pro- duction rate while the setpoint tracking of the conventional proportional-integral （PI） controller was oscillatory with overshoots and obvious interaction between the reactor temperature and production rate loops. The MPC was able to produce controller moves which not only were well within the specified input constraints for both control vari- ables, but also non-aggressive and sufficiently smooth for practical implementations. Furthermore, the closed loop dynamic simulations indicated that the speed of rejecting the process disturbances for the MPC controller were also acceotable for both controlled variables.     

带夹套的反应釜温度控制器及LabVIEW实现

提出了一种带夹套的反应釜温度控制系统及控制方法:通过测温装置测得的反应釜和夹套内的实时温度,采用串级PID控制方法控制夹套内的温度,从而控制反应釜内的温度.     

LINEAR PI TEMPERATURE-CONCENTRATION CASCADE CONTROL FOR TUBULAR REACTORS

In this article we explore the application of linear PI cascade control schemes to improve the performance of industrial PI/PID controllers for controlling outlet reactor concentration. By departing from simple I/O first-order dynamical models obtained from step responses, it is shown that the incorporation of a secondary loop for regulating the reactor temperature at a given interior position significantly improves the control performance in the face of feed composition and temperature disturbances. The effects of the temperature sensor location and the usage of multiple temperature measurements are also evaluated.     

LINEAR PI TEMPERATURE-CONCENTRATION CASCADE CONTROL FOR TUBULAR REACTORS

In this article we explore the application of linear PI cascade control schemes to improve the performance of industrial PI/PID controllers for controlling outlet reactor concentration. By departing from simple I/O first-order dynamical models obtained from step responses, it is shown that the incorporation of a secondary loop for regulating the reactor temperature at a given interior position significantly improves the control performance in the face of feed composition and temperature disturbances. The effects of the temperature sensor location and the usage of multiple temperature measurements are also evaluated.     

Investigation of the liquid recycle in the reactor cascade of an industrial scale ebullated bed hydrocracking unit

One of the commercial means to convert heavy oil residue is hydrocracking in an ebullated bed. The ebullated bed reactor includes a complex gas–liquid–solid backmixed system which attracts the attention of many scientists and research groups. This work is aimed at the calculation of the internal recycle flow rate and understanding its effect on other parameters of the ebullated bed. Measured data were collected from an industrial scale residual hydrocracking unit consisting of a cascade of three ebullated bed reactors. A simplified block model of the ebullated bed reactors was created in Aspen Plus and fed with measured data. For reaction yield calculation, a lumped kinetic model was used. The model was verified by comparing experimental and calculated distillation curves as well as the calculated and measured reactor inlet temperature. Influence of the feed rate on the recycle ratio(recycle to feed flow rate) was estimated. A relation between the recycle flow rate, pump pressure difference and catalyst inventory has been identified. The recycle ratio also affects the temperature gradient along the reactor cascade. Influence of the recycle ratio on the temperature gradient decreased with the cascade member order.     

连续搅拌釜式丙烯聚合反应器的模拟（Ⅱ）反应器的动态模拟

建立了丙烯液相本体聚合连续搅拌釜式反应器的动态数学模型，通过计算机模拟，研究了进夹套冷却水流量、丙烯蒸汽冷凝量、催比剂浓度及进料温度４个变量在矩形波和阶跃两种干扰方式下反应器的动态行为，为反应器控制系统的设计提供了定量依据。     

Controllability and energy efficiency of a high-purity divided wall column

The divided wall column system is a promising energy-saving alternative for separating multi-component mixtures. However, high energy efficiency and stable operations can only be achieved with careful design of steady state operation and control scheme. In this study, the effects of liquid split and vapor split ratios on the energy efficiency and controllability of a divided wall column system for separating ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol were investigated. A region with high energy efficiency was identified. However, relative gain analysis found that the performance of multi-loops composition control would be very poor. Dynamic tests showed that multi-loop temperature control cannot return the product compositions to the desired values in case of feed composition disturbances. Outside this region, composition control can compensate for external disturbances such as feed flow rate and feed composition changes but not changes in operating region caused by internal variations such as liquid and vapor splits. Offsets in the product purities were found if temperature controls were used and there are disturbances in feed composition or changes in operating region caused by upsets in liquid and vapor splits. There is a trade-off between energy efficiency and controllability. A composition + temperature cascade scheme was proposed to stabilize the operation with high energy efficiency. The proposed scheme was able to maintain high product purity and reject external disturbances in feed flow and composition changes as well as internal disturbances such as changes in liquid and vapor splits.     

CONTROL OF A CONTINUOUS POLYMERIZATION REACTOR BY WIENER INPUT/OUTPUT DATA-BASED PREDICTIVE CONTROLLER WITH DIRECT INVERSE IDENTIFICATION

This article reports an experimental study for the identification and predictive control of a continuous methyl methacrylate (MMA) solution polymerization reactor. The Wiener model was introduced to identify the polymerization reactor in a more efficient manner than the conventional methods of Wiener model identification. In particular, the method of subspace identification was employed and the inverse of the nonlinear part was directly identified. The input variables in this work were the jacket inlet temperature and the feed flow rate, while the monomer conversion and the weight average molecular weight were selected as the output variables. On the basis of the identified model a Wiener-type input/output data-based predictive controller was designed and applied to the property control of polymer product in the continuous MMA polymerization reactor by conducting an on-line digital control experiment with online densitometer and viscometer. Despite the complex and nonlinear characteristics of the polymerization reactor, the proposed controller was found to perform satisfactorily for property control in the multiple-input multiple-output system with input constraints for both set-point tracking and disturbance rejection. This was also confirmed by simulation results.     

CONTROL OF A CONTINUOUS POLYMERIZATION REACTOR BY WIENER INPUT/OUTPUT DATA-BASED PREDICTIVE CONTROLLER WITH DIRECT INVERSE IDENTIFICATION

This article reports an experimental study for the identification and predictive control of a continuous methyl methacrylate (MMA) solution polymerization reactor. The Wiener model was introduced to identify the polymerization reactor in a more efficient manner than the conventional methods of Wiener model identification. In particular, the method of subspace identification was employed and the inverse of the nonlinear part was directly identified. The input variables in this work were the jacket inlet temperature and the feed flow rate, while the monomer conversion and the weight average molecular weight were selected as the output variables. On the basis of the identified model a Wiener-type input/output data-based predictive controller was designed and applied to the property control of polymer product in the continuous MMA polymerization reactor by conducting an on-line digital control experiment with online densitometer and viscometer. Despite the complex and nonlinear characteristics of the polymerization reactor, the proposed controller was found to perform satisfactorily for property control in the multiple-input multiple-output system with input constraints for both set-point tracking and disturbance rejection. This was also confirmed by simulation results.     

连续搅拌釜式丙烯聚合反应器的模拟（Ⅰ）反应器的定态模拟

以实际工业装置为背景，建立了丙烯液相本体聚合连续搅拌釜式反应器的定态数学模型。通过模拟计算，考察了诸工艺参数──进料温度、进料流量、夹套冷却水人口温度和流量、丙烯蒸汽冷凝量、催化剂浓度以及反应器中的氢浓度对聚合反应釜反应结果的影响，并对其定态操作行为作了理论上的解释和分析。     

MULTIVARIABLE CONTROL OF CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESSES

Simple, explicit and physically intuitive Feedforward and Feedback control policies are designed for Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Processes. The Feedforward (FF) control algorithm compensates for changes in the feed rate and feed coking tendency by the use of the air flow and catalyst circulation rates as control variables to maintain the conversion and the reactor temperature at fixed levels. Through steady state and dynamic simulations the FF controller is shown to be very effective. To improve the dynamic response of the process and to account for the process/model mismatch a feedback (FB) controller is also designed to complement the FF action. The FB action is designed by use of the transformation related to the physical modes which correspond to the extensive variables of the process. It is shown that the required control structure consists of two loops. One uses the air flow rate to control the total sensible heat content of the reactor and regenerator solid phases. The other loop controls the regenerator enthalpy by changes in the catalyst circulation rate. The air flow rate controller includes an integral action to avoid reactor temperature offsets, while the catalyst circulation rate controller requires a nonlinear static observer to predict the coke concentration on the regenerated catalyst from dense bed and flue gas regenerator temperatures. The performance of the controller for changes on the oil feed rate, caking tendency of the feed, as well as for reactor temperature set point changes is faster and smoother than Kurihara's scheme.     

串级控制对过程预测控制的影响分析与对策

化工过程控制中普遍设置以流量控制为副回路的串级控制来实现对温度、液位和成分等被控变量的控制。预测控制的操作变量在很多情况下也是流量,其控制作用的实现要靠底层的流量控制回路。本文针对由于现场串级控制结构不允许改变,流量副回路只能接收温度等主控制器的输出作为其给定值,造成上层预测控制的操作变量无法直接下载到流量控制回路的问题,分别提出了一种将上层优化输出通过一阶惯性滤波作用于主回路控制器和一种将串级控制中流量对主被控变量的传递函数嵌入预测控制模型的实施方案,通过Shell标准重油分馏塔的控制问题进行仿真实验证明了两种方案的可行性,并对其控制性能进行了比较分析。两种方法理论上构思简单,实际中易于实现,具有普遍适用性。     

连续反应釜温度控制系统的设计与仿真

针对连续反应釜中进行的化学反应特性,按照过程的动力学方程和能量平衡等关系,设计了一套基于西门子PCS7的连续化学反应釜(CSTR)温度控制系统。由于连续反应釜内温度的非线性、时变等特性,采用变结构模糊控制结合前馈、串级、分程等先进的控制方式,克服了传统PID算法参数调整复杂、超调量大的缺点。仿真结果表明:对温度采用变结构模糊控制能获得较好的稳态精度和动态特性,满足了反应釜内温度控制的要求。     

Design and control of a p-xylene oxidation process

The p-xylene (PX) oxidation process is of great industrial importance because of the strong demand of the global polyester fiber. A steady-state model of the PX oxidation has been studied by many researchers. In our previous work, a novel industrial p-xylene oxidation reactor model using the free radical mechanism based kinetics has been developed. However, the disturbances such as production rate change, feed composition variability and reactor temperature changes widely exist in the industry process. In this paper, dynamic simulation of the PX oxidation reactorwas designed by Aspen Dynamics and used to develop an effective plantwide control structure, which was capable of effectively handling the disturbances in the load and the temperature of the reactor. Step responses of the control structure to the disturbances were shown and served as the foundation of the smooth operation and advanced control strategy of this process in our future work.     

聚丙烯环形反应器模拟与分析：（Ⅱ）动态特性和操作稳定性

建立了聚丙烯环形反应器动态数学模型,通过模拟计算,研究了工艺参数扰动时聚丙烯环形反应器的动态响应规律、反应器结构参数对动态特性的影响,并对冷却水流量和冷却水入口温度进行了动态操作稳定性分析。     

Variable Cascade Control Structure for Tubular Reactors

The application of a variable control structure for tubular reactors, based on multiple temperature measurements, is explored. The proposed structure allows the controller to adapt to temperature error variations along the tubular reactor. Controllers can be designed from simple input‐output first‐order dynamical models obtained from step responses and are coupled with a dynamic law for assigning a variable weight to conventional feedback cascade control loops. The simulation results show that the variable structure based on linear proportional‐integral controllers enhances the performance and robustness properties of conventional cascade schemes for controlling the outlet reactor concentration. Major advantages are shown in the face of a variety of concentration and temperature feed disturbances.     

Generalized delta rule (GDR) algorithm with generalized predictive control (GPC) for optimum temperature tracking of batch polymerization

The generalized delta rule (GDR) algorithm with generalized predictive control (GPC) control was implemented experimentally to track the temperature on a set point in a batch, jacketed polymerization reactor. An equation for optimal temperature was obtained by using co-state Hamiltonian and model equations. To track the calculated optimal temperature profiles, controller used should act smoothly and precisely as much as possible. Experimental application was achieved to obtain the desired comparison. In the design of this control system, the reactor filled with styrene-toluene mixture is considered as a heat exchanger. When the reactor is heated by means of an immersed heater, cooling water is passed through the reactor-cooling jacket. So the cooling water absorbs the heat given out by the heater. If this is taken into consideration, this reactor can be considered to be continuous in terms of energy. When such a mixing chamber was used as a polymer reactor with defined values of heat input and cooling flow rate, system can reach the steady-state condition. The heat released during the reaction was accepted as a disturbance for the heat exchanger. Heat input from the immersed heater is chosen as a manipulated variable. The neural network model based on the relation between the reactor temperature and heat input to the reactor is used. The performance results of GDR with GPC were compared with the results obtained by using nonlinear GPC with NARMAX model.The reactor temperature closely follows the optimal trajectory. And then molecular weight, experimental conversion and chain lengths are obtained for GDR with GPC.     

前馈变量对预测控制可行域的影响分析

实际生产过程中,预测控制因其解耦性能和强鲁棒性得以广泛使用。在预测控制的研究中大都忽略控制过程中的干扰作用。对于控制过程中存在的可测且变化规律已知的干扰作用,干扰对输出的影响具有一定的可预见性,可通过在预测控制器中引入前馈的方法加以利用。前馈变量的引入会对系统的控制效果产生影响,如果不先对其影响进行分析而直接求解优化,最终结果不能反映预测控制的实际效果。本文从可行域的角度出发,通过几何表现形式,直观分析前馈变量的引入造成的可行域变化;进一步使用了凸空间的思想,通过求解可行域的顶点集合来确定可行域的大小,进而得出前馈变量对系统可行域的影响效果,通过仿真验证了本文方法的有效性。