Design of Model Predictive Control for Butyl Acetate Production in Reactive Distillation

• Main Authors: T. Komkrajang, S. Kheawhom, W. Paengjuntuek, A. Arpornwichanop
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2014-08-01
• Series: Chemical Engineering Transactions
• Online Access: https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/5373

An efficient operation of the reactive distillation is challenging due to its complex dynamics resulting from the coupling of reaction and separation tasks into a single unit. Conventional control schemes cannot always handle with highly nonlinear and multivariable systems. Therefore, this study considers the implementation of a model predictive control (MPC) to the reactive distillation column in which the esterification of butanol and acetic acid to produce butyl acetate is chosen as a case study. The control objective is to maintain the butyl acetate product at a desired purity without the accumulation of unreacted reactants in the reactive zone of the reactive distillation. Two alternative control structures of MPC controller are proposed. The first one is based on the two-point temperature control (CS1), whereas the second one involves the one-point temperature control and the direct control of the acetic acid composition (CS2) within the reactive distillation. It is found that the MPC with CS2 structure shows a better performance under disturbance rejection and set-point tracking case studies; faster and smoother responses with less oscillation are observed.