Control of a Distillation Column with a Heat Pump

Abstract Static and dynamic operabilities of two types of distillation systems with a heat pump are investigated based on digital simulation. A heat pump is not installed between a condenser and a reboiler but between a plate in the cooling zone of a distillation column and a reboiler (SC/R System). One of the SC/R systems is a vapor-split type system and the another employs a partial condenser-type system as a side-cooler. Both systems have the broad regions of feasible operation of the the manipulative variables, reflux ratio and heat to a reboiler. The latter system is superior to the another in terms of control performance.