RIGOROUS SIMULATION AND MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A CRUDE DISTILLATION UNIT

Abstract This paper describes the application of a widely-used commercial multivariable predictive controller to a rigorously simulated crude distillation process. After describing the main process and controller features, it is shown how the two simulation and control environments can be interfaced together. A number of simulation results of typical product quality changes and crude switches are presented. The final goal of this paper is to demonstrate how rigorous dynamic simulators can be effectively used to reduce the costs of Advanced Process Control projects by shortening model identification, controller design and commissioning phases.