OPTIMAL-CONTROL AND ONLINE OPERATION OF REACTIVE BATCH DISTILLATION

While both the dynamic modelling, and to a lesser extent, the optimisa tion of reactive batch distillation have been studied in the past, iss ues related to the control and on-line operation of such a process hav e not been properly addressed. In this study a,priori optimal profiles of the operating variables are established for an industrial reactive distillation by maximising the profitability of the process subject t o constraints on the reboiler temperature and the accumulator composit ion. The control properties at optimal and non-optimal conditions are assessed. A PI-controller is designed to implement the optimal profile s and the controller performance is tested using a simulation model in cluding disturbances in the reaction model and reboiler heat duty. The fully automatic operation of the process, according to the optimal po licies, is demonstrated in conjunction with a real time control system .