Interaction between process design and process control: economic analysis of process dynamics

Abstract A method is presented to assess the impact of disturbances on plant economic performance. The method is suitable for use during process design, and can be used to help evaluate alternative process structures or alternative control schemes for a given process. Non-linear steady-state optimization is performed to determine the best operating point in the absence of disturbances. Frequency response analysis of a linearized plant dynamic model is used to estimate the effects of plant disturbances on this ideal performance under a variety of control strategies. The method is illustrated on a case study involving minerals flotation circuit design.