Implementation of a steady-state inversely controlled process model for integrated design and control of an ETBE reactive distillation

Recently, Sharifzadeh and Thornhill (2012) proposed a modeling approach for control structure selection using an inversely controlled process model, which benefits from significant complexity reductions. The treatment was based on the property that the inverse solution of a process model determines the best achievable control performance. The present article applies that methodology for integrated design and control of an ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) reactive distillation column. In addition, the simulation-optimization program is reformulated using a penalty function, resulting in less optimization variables and better convergence of the simulation program. While the required computational efforts remain almost at the same level of steady-state process optimization, the process and its control structure are optimized simultaneously and regulatory steady-state operability of the solution is ensured. Finally, dynamic simulation is applied for detailed design of PI control loops.

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► Sharifzadeh and Thornhill (2012) proposed a perfect control modeling approach.
► The present paper modifies that method for steady-state integrated design and control.
► The method is implemented for an ETBE reactive distillation column.
► The results are the optimized process and control structure.
► Detailed controller design is performed using dynamic simulation.