PLANT-WIDE CONTROL OF THE TENNESSEE EASTMAN PROBLEM

This study focuses on the development and performance of four plant-wi de control structures for the Tennessee Eastman challenge problem. The control structures are developed in a tiered fashion and without the use of a quantitative steady state or dynamic model of the process. Th e throughput or production rate manipulator is selected first so that it is located on the major process path. The inventory controls are ar ranged in an outward direction from this throughput manipulator. The f our structures are described and comments are given on their effective handling of the defined disturbances and setpoint changes. One struct ure provides effective control under all circumstances for 50 hours of process time. The effective dynamic performance of these structures s upports the strength of the tiered plant-wide control design methodolo gy used.