Control of centrifugal compressors via model predictive control for enhanced oil recovery applications

This paper proposes a control system for integrated pressure and surge control of centrifugal compressors for enhanced oil recovery application. The proposed control system is based on linear model predictive control. A fully validated non-linear dynamic model was developed in order to simulate the operation of the compressor at full and partial load. The model of the compression system includes a main process line with the compressor and a recycle line with the antisurge recycle valve. Different disturbance and control tuning scenarios were tested and the response of the model predictive controller was analysed, evaluated and also compared with a traditional control system. Temperature effects have been taken into account in the model of the process and in the constraint formulation of the MPC optimization problem. The results show that the proposed control technique is able to meet the process demand while preventing surge and also minimizing the amount of gas recycle.