Nonlinear model-based control of a batch reactive distillation column

The inherent trade off between model accuracy and computational tractabilit y for model-based control applications is addressed in this article by the development of reduced order nonlinear models. Traveling wave phenomena is used to develop low order models for multicomponent reactive distillation c olumns. A motivational example of batch esterification column is used to de monstrate the synthesis procedure. Tight control of the column is obtained with the use of reduced model in a model predictive control algorithm. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.