Development of dynamic models of reactive distillation columns for simulation and determination of control

Abstract

Dynamic models of a reactive distillation column have been developed and implemented in this work. A model describing the steady state behavior of the system has been built in a first step. The results from this steady state model have been compared to data provided from an industrial collaborator and the reconciled model formed the basis for the development of a dynamic model. Four controlled and four manipulated variables have been determined in a subsequent step and step tests for the manipulated variables were simulated. The data generated by the step responses was used for fitting transfer functions between the manipulated and the controlled variables. RGA analysis was performed to find the optimal pairing for controller design. Feedback controllers of PID type were designed between the paired variables found from RGA and the controllers were implemented on the column model. Both servo and regulatory problems have been considered and tested.