A technique for the analysis of state-space linear systems is applied to the problem of selection of resilient chemical process designs.... Show moreA technique for the analysis of state-space linear systems is applied to the problem of selection of resilient chemical process designs. Structural Dominance Analysis affords the evaluation of many process design and control configurations and assessment of the effects of potential manipulated variables and disturbances. After a brief presentation of the analysis method, a complex multibed tubular autothermal reactor system is examined. Resilient process configurations, ease of control, and effects of various inputs on reactor state variables and outputs are considered, and effective control configurations are selected. Endnote format citation Show less
Model-based controllers for a bench scale autothermal tubular packed-bed reactor have been formulated using the Internal Model Control (IMC)... Show moreModel-based controllers for a bench scale autothermal tubular packed-bed reactor have been formulated using the Internal Model Control (IMC) approach. The Structural Dominance Analysis technique has been used in developing the reduced-order models. Controller performance at robust and sensitive steady states have been assessed through simulations and experiments. Both PI and model-based controllers can regulate reactor operation at robust steady states, but only third order IMC controllers are able to regulate reactor operation at the sensitive steady state. Endnote format citation Show less
The regions of stability and parametric sensitivity of countercurrent reactor/heat exchangers are determined explicitly in the plane of inlet... Show moreThe regions of stability and parametric sensitivity of countercurrent reactor/heat exchangers are determined explicitly in the plane of inlet feed temperature-inlet coolant temperature. The concept of phase plane analysis is generalized to include all orders of reaction rate expressions, a broader range of system parameters, and is extended to the case of autothermal reactors. An industrial hydrocarbon oxidation reactor model and an autothermal CO oxidation reactor model have been used to illustrate and to evaluate the analysis method. The approach presented here is appealing since the region of safe inlet temperatures is determined explicitly and the region of safe operation can be optimized with respect to the reactor design parameters. Endnote format citation Show less
