Decoupling Model Predictive Control of a Reactive Packed Distillation Column

Abdulwahab, Giwa and Süleyman, Karacan (2012) Decoupling Model Predictive Control of a Reactive Packed Distillation Column. nternational Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, 4 (6). pp. 39-51. ISSN 2229 5216

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Abstract

In this work, the applications of decouplers in the temperature control of a reactive packed distillation column has been carried out using two different types of controller models. The controller models used were neural network model and transfer function model. The production of ethyl acetate (desired product) and water (by-product) from the esterification reaction between acetic acid and ethanol in the presence of Amberlyst 15 solid catalyst was used as the case study process. The neural network and the transfer function models were developed respectively with the aid of Neural Network Toolbox and System Identification Toolbox of MATLAB by using the data generated from the experimental studies carried out in the reactive packed distillation column setup. Top segment temperature, reaction segment temperature and bottom segment temperature were selected as the controlled variables while reflux ratio, feed ratio and reboiler duty were chosen as the manipulated variables of the control system. After the control simulation, the results obtained showed that the performance of the Neural Network Decoupling Model Predictive Controller (NNDMPC) was better than that of the Transfer Function Decoupling Model Predictive Controller (TFDMPC) because the integral squared error values calculated for the top segment and reaction segment temperatures for the NNDMPC were found to be lower than those of the TFDMPC

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