The Dynamic Behavior and Control of Methanol-Toluene Distillation Column

Abstract

In this study the dynamic behavior for two control methods of the distillation column for the separation of methanol and toluene mixture are studied. The experimental responses of temperature in each tray of distillation column for step changes in set point of reboiler, reflux ratio and feed weight fraction were obtained. Based on a derived mathematical model, the Simulink simulator of the distillation column is used to implement the PID and fuzzy logic control methods. The Comparison between two controllers is done for step changes in set point, feed flow rate, feed weight fraction and liquid reflux. The controller performance is measured by using mean square error and integral square error. The results showed that the performance of the fuzzy controller is the best than the PID controller in fast access to the desired value and cancelling the disturbances.

Design of Multivariable Control System of a Distillation Tower via Simulation Using MATLAB/Simulink

“…Fabro et al [3] developed intelligent predictive controller Continuous distillation tower using the recurrence of neural networks to highlight the process and processing of predictions about the behavior of the reliance on reaction control applied to the system and then this information is used by the control logic to complete the best performance of the control. Ahmed and Mohammad [4] studied the dynamic behavior of continuous distillation columns and implemented different types of control strategies for the separation of binary mixture composed of ethanol and water. They applied PI and PID controllers to control the top and bottom concentration and tuning parameters of this controller by using (Cohen-coon) method and trial and error method.…”