Calorimetric-state estimators for chemical reactor diagnosis and control: review of methods and applications

Abstract The advanced control of stirred tank reactors can be based on models which contain exclusively the conservation equations of energy and species, without using further sophisticated modelling terms. These basic models allow determination of the instantaneous heat production, the conversion and the reactive production rate from state estimation algorithms. These “calorimetric”-state estimators are based on easily available signals, like temperatures, pressures, flows, and on credible model information, like conservation equations. The design of these estimators is quite simple, as they are based on linear models. This contribution gives an overview of control applications which use these state estimators based on calorimetric principles. Available models, signal processing principles and control structures will be reviewed. These advanced control loops assist basic automation structures in improving dynamic response behaviour, control performance and disturbance rejection. They introduce new strategies into reactor control.