Advances in Process Control Applications

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on advances in process control applications. The normal approach to process control applications is to start with a model development and simulation approach. In case a successful simulation is obtained, the model is usually too complex and too detailed by this time to be amenable to the application of modern control theoretical techniques. The cost of obtaining simulation models and programming control systems often outweighs the economic advantages obtained. One of the most important steps in developing an optimal control strategy for an industrial process is to clearly identify the variables in the process that are independent, dependent, and parametric. The first step in modeling the system is to derive the dynamic material and energy balances for the major chemical species in the system. An energy balance should be written for each distinct measurable phase within the system. The chapter describes an application of nonlinear state estimation to a complex industrial process.