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)
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