Advanced Control of a Continuous Solution Copolymerization Process

Abstract

A model-based predictive control system is designed for a copolymerization reactor. These processes typically have such a high nonlinear dynamic behavior to make practically ineffective the conventional control techniques, still so widespread in process and polymer industries. A predictive controller is adopted in this work, given the success this family of controllers is having in many chemical processes and oil refineries, especially due to their possibility of including bounds on both manipulated and controlled variables. The solution copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with vinyl acetate in a continuous stirred tank reactor is considered as an industrial case study for the analysis of the predictive control robustness in the field of petrochemical and polymer production. Both regulatory and servo problems scenarios are considered to check tangible benefits deriving from modelbased predictive controller implementation.

The Application of New Separation Technology - Molecular Distillation Regenerated of Waste Heavy Oil

“…Then, the generated vapor molecules must meet a free path between the evaporator and the condenser. The pressure must be low and the condenser must be separated from the evaporator by a distance shorter than the free path of the evaporating molecules [6]. Under these conditions, theoretically, the return of the vapor molecules to the liquid phase should not occur and the evaporation rate should only be governed by the rate of molecules that escape from the liquid surface.…”