Data-based control of an industrial tubular reactor

This paper describes the empirical modelling and control of a tubular react or producing alpha-olefins at the Mizushima (Japan) site of Mitsubishi Chem ical Corporation (MCC). Initially, the reactor was operated manually result ing in inconsistent run-to-run performance. Using archived data from severa l past runs and by performing statistical and time-series analysis of the d ata jets, satisfactory and consistent automatic feedback and feedforward co ntrol of the reactors was achieved. An overview of the modelling efforts in volved and the performance of the automatic control strategies is provided here. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.