MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A DIVIDING-WALL COLUMN

This study explores an optimal model predictive control (MPC) of a dividing-wall column (DWC). Energy minimization is implicitly achieved by using an additional loop controlling the heavy component in the top of the feed side, by using the liquid split as manipulated variable. An industrial case-study is presented based on the separation of the mixture benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) in a DWC. The results of the dynamic model simulations show that MPC leads to a significant increase in performance - lower overshooting and shorter settling times - as compared to previously reported PID controllers.