Structural design for on-line process optimization: II. Application to a simulated FCC

A previously proposed methodology for analyzing the economic performance of different structures of an integrated model predictive regulatory control and on-line optimization system is illustrated using the simulated case stu dy of a fluid-catalytic cracker The economic performance of two previously proposed regulatory control structures, the conventional and riser-regenera tor control structures, is assessed both in isolation and as part of a real -time optimization system. The results show that the economic performance o f the conventional structure is superior when operated in isolation. The th eory, however, predicts that an optimally configured real-time optimization system based on the riser-regenerator structure will deliver superperforma nce overall. The predictions of the method were confirmed using Monte Carlo simulations.