New Process Control Concepts for Energy Efficient Operation of Reactive Dividing Wall Columns

Abstract

In this study a concentration control concept is employed for energy efficient operation of a reactive dividing wall column. The control concept takes into account the liquid split as a manipulated variable in order to manipulate the component flow in the column, while the heavy key reactant concentration on the top stage in the prefractionator serves as control variable. The dynamic performance as well as the ability to adjust energy minimal steady states after disturbances is analysed and evaluated by comparison of the proposed concept to one with a fixed liquid split.