Title: Controllability analysis for chemical process plants

Authors: Rodolfo Tellez-Schmill, William Y. Svrcek, Brent R. Young

Addresses: SNC-Lavalin Inc., Calgary, AB T2P 3H5, Canada. ' Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada. ' Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland City, New Zealand

Abstract: Current synthesis methodologies for chemical process plants assume all design and operating conditions are constant values and thus overlook controllability issues. The controllability measures presented in this paper are intended to assess the controllability of a chemical process plant, through a simple and comprehensive methodology that allows an easy screening to determine a more controllable plant and state of operating conditions. In this paper, we address the controllability issues of two chemical plants, an HDA plant and an acrylic acid plant.

Keywords: controllability measures; multivariable control systems; disturbance analysis; HDA plant; acrylic acid plants; chemical process plants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAC.2007.014017

International Journal of Automation and Control, 2007 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.145 - 164

Published online: 11 Jun 2007 *

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