Abstract:
A control system controls the acid strength of reaction acid in an alkylation unit reacting an olefin with an isoparaffin in the presence of the reaction acid to eventually produce an alkylate. The system senses the actual reaction acid strength, the discharge acid flow rate, the flow rate of discharge acid leaving the alkylation unit, the bottom products flow rate and the alkylate content of the bottoms product from a debutanizer tower and the propylene and butylene content of the olefin stream entering the alkylation unit. Using equations hereinafter disclosed, along with economic values associated with the acid and the alkylate, the control system periodically determines the optimum reaction acid strength. When the change in the reaction acid strength necessary to achieve the optimum reaction acid strength is less than a predetermined change, the necessary change is implemented. When the necessary change is greater than the predetermined change, the reaction acid strength is changed by an increment equal to the predetermined change. Where the reaction aicd strength is decreased to achieve an optimum reaction acid strength, a minimum limit is imposed on the reaction acid strength to prevent undesirable side reactions, such as olefin polymerization, from occurring.