An optimal control application to an industrial hydrogenation reactor

Abilov A., Kocak M.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN, vol.78, no.A4, pp.630-632, 2000 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 78 Issue: A4
  • Publication Date: 2000
  • Doi Number: 10.1205/026387600527572
  • Journal Name: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.630-632
  • Keywords: real-time, optimization, adaptive control, nonlinear models, industrial control, least squares
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

An optimal control system was designed and applied to the acetylene hydrogenation section in an industrial process (EP-300) producing ethylene and propylene. A first principles model was developed for the hydrogenation reactor using industrial palladium pellets as catalyst, and a real time optimization algorithm was devised and incorporated to accommodate changing process conditions. The industrial application continues to be harnessed as it reduced the ethylene loss and increased the catalyst life, rendering important gains.