Evaluating control structures for a general heat integrated distillation column (general HIDiC)

The assessment of control configurations for a general HIDiC (an ideal heat integrated distillation column incorporated with a overhead condenser and bottom reboiler structure) is addressed in this work. It is found that the double ratio control configuration, (L/D, V/B) is still the best one among all the possibilities. Moreover, the pressure difference between the rectifying and the stripping sections and the feed thermal condition are expected to be consistent manipulative variables for the control of the general HIDiC. The control configuration, (pr-ps, q), appears to be a feasible one for the process operation. The performances of the general HIDiC can be substantially improved by employing efficient multivarible control algorithms.