Hierarchical procedure for plantwide control system synthesis

Abstract

Abstract A hierarchical procedure for synthesizing an optimal plantwide control system is proposed for an existing continuous chemical process. Alternative plantwide control systems are synthesized and are compared based on economics. The cost associated with dynamic controllability is quantified by the controllability index ν introduced by Zheng and Mahajanam (1999). The procedure is illustrated on a simple reactor‐separator‐recycle system. Although the procedure is discussed for an existing plant, a simple modification of the approach can be used to determine the optimum surge capacities of a process, including reflux drums and column sumps—a problem of increasing interest.