A NEW HEATING-COOLING SYSTEM TO IMPROVE CONTROLLABILITY OF BATCH REACTORS

The mathematical modelling and the development of a numerical simulato r of a pilot-plant batch reactor are presented. In this paper, dynamic simulation and advanced control strategy are given. This work present s the development and characterisation of a multipurpose batch reactor with a variable heating/cooling structure for temperature control. Th is strategy is based on the use of the thermal flux as the manipulated variable. The controller (the Generalised Predictive Controller) comp utes at each sampling time the thermal flux to be exchanged with the t hermal fluid flowing in the jacket to achieve the desired reactor temp erature profile. This information is then used to select the thermal f luid on the basis of the maximal and minimal thermal flux capacities c omputed on-line for each utility. This methodology allows to overcome the discontinuities due to utility fluid switching frequently encounte red during the batch reactor operation.