Abstract:
A control system for a fractionation column which separates a feed into a heavy bottoms product, which is used as fuel for a plant, and into a light overhead product, which is used in a process, is disclosed. The fractionation column is controlled in such a manner that sufficient bottoms product is supplied to meet the plant fuel requirements while maintaining a desired distillation temperature for the overhead product. The flow rate of fuel oil to the reboiler furnace associated with the fractionation column and the flow rate of the external reflux to the fractionation column are controlled in such a manner that the objectives of supplying sufficient bottoms product to meet plant fuel requirements and supplying an overhead product having a desired distillation temperature are met while still minimizing the external reflux flow rate and the flow rate of the fuel oil to the reboiler furnace to increase fuel economy.
Abstract:
A multi-source feedstock distribution system is controlled by an optimization so as to substantially minimize the total cost of the feed while also meeting set points for flow rate and composition to feedstock users supplied by the multi-source feedstock distribution system.
Abstract:
A method for automated control of a petroleum distillation column in which signals representing temperatures, pressures and fluid flow rates for selected product streams withdrawn from the column are transmitted to a digital computer where, by means of a programmed algorithm, they are used to derive a true boiling point curve for the petroleum products of such product streams. The true boil point curve is then used to infer selected properties for the petroleum products which are compared with desired properties for the products of the monitored product streams and the differences between the inferred and desired properties are utilized to adjust automatically one or more of the operating parameters for the column so as to move the column's performance incrementally towards optimization.
Abstract:
In an acid alkylation process wherein a fresh isobutane stream is combined with an olefin stream to form a combined isobutane olefin feed stream, a control system maintains a desired ratio of isobutane to olefin in the combined feed stream by manipulating the flow rate of the fresh isobutane stream. In addition, the controller automatically compensates for the effect of changes in the fresh isobutane feed stream by making equal changes in the flow rate of reactor effluent. Thus, the liquid level in the alkylation reactor is unaffected by changes made in the fresh isobutane stream to maintain the desired isobutane to olefin ratio.
Abstract:
In an ammonia manufacturing process, control of the hydrogen to nitrogen ratio for the feed to the ammonia synthesis reactor is accomplished by controlling the hydrogen to nitrogen ratio based on the ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to nitrogen in the effluent withdrawn from the secondary reformer. Also, in an ammonia manufacturing process where parallel reformer trains are utilized, shifting of loading between the parallel reformer trains is accomplished using valve position control to override the control based on the ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to nitrogen in the effluent withdrawn from the secondary reformer.
Abstract:
In an extrusion process, desired product quality parameters are maintained very accurately by manipulating the rotational speed of the screw associated with the extrusion process so as to maintain a desired ratio of feed rate to drag flow in the extrusion process and by manipulating the feed rate of the material to the extrusion process so as to maintain a desired energy input per unit of the material being processed.
Abstract:
In a process in which a heating fluid supplied from a furnace is utilized to supply heat to a plurality of processes, method and apparatus is provided for substantially optimizing the operation of the heater by minimizing the amount of the heating fluid which is bypassed around the processes to which the heating fluid is supplied.
Abstract:
In an alkylation process in which an acid regenerator is utilized to separate an acid catalyst from acid soluble oil contained in a spent acid catalyst stream, the heat input to the acid regenerator is manipulated based on the feed flow rate of the spent acid catalyst stream so as to maintain a substantially constant heat input per pound of feed flowing to the acid regenerator and the liquid level in the acid regenerator is manipulated so as to maintain the acid catalyst and acid soluble oil interface in the acid regenerator at a desired level. Such manipulation of the heat input to and the liquid level in the acid regenerator results in a substantially optimum separation of acid catalyst from acid soluble oil.
Abstract:
Measurements of process variables associated with a cracking furnace are utilized to calculate the actual maximum tube skin temperature for the cracking furnace. The thus calculated actual maximum tube skin temperature is then utilized to derive a control signal which may be utilized to manipulate the rate at which heat is supplied to the cracking furnace. The accurate prediction of the actual tube skin temperature based on actual process measurements enables the conversion rate for the cracking furnace to be substantially maximized while preventing damage to the cracking tubes.
Abstract:
In a process in which both a turbine or motor and an expander are utilized to drive a compressor, the use of the expander is substantially maximized while still insuring that the driving force applied to the turbine or motor does not go below a low limit. A variable limit is also utilized to prevent a stuck valve from being overdriven by a controller.