EXPERT MULTIVARIABLE CONTROL .3. EXTENSION OF EMC TO 3-PRODUCT SIDE-STREAM DISTILLATION-COLUMNS

In part 1, the general structure and methodology of the expert multivariable controller (EMC) were presented. In part 2, the EMC was applied to two-product distillation columns that were 4×4 systems: two compositions and two levels. In this final part, the EMC is extended to a 5 × 5 distillation process: a three-product side-stream distillation column. The knowledge determined during the design of the EMC for the two-product distillation column can also be used for the three-product column, but additional process knowledge is needed to account for the presence of the side stream and the larger number of abnormal operating conditions and alternative solutions that are possible. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.