Dynamic Mathematical Modelling and Advanced Control Strategies for Complex Hydrogenation Process

Over the last past decades, the number of control system applications in the chemical and petrochemical domains has increased considerably. However, due to the diversity and particularity of chemical processes, there are still many challenges that have to be addressed like: system identification, performance enhancement, monitoring, diagnosis and more importantly closed-loop stability, robustness. Taking into account that most chemical processes are complex, nonlinear MIMO (multi-input multi-output) systems, the challenge is even greater. This book chapter is directed towards the development and the implementation of modern control algorithms for complex and high-risk petro-chemical processes, the considered case study being the production of 2 ethyl-hexanol through the 2 ethyl-hexenal hydrogenation process. 2 ethyl-hexanol is mainly used in the production of plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacture. In the second part, is described the mathematical modelling of the 2 ethyl-hexenal hydrogenation process including also the simulation and validation of the developed mathematical models. The third part will focus on the design and implementation of conventional control strategy. Section four is dedicated to the design and implementation of several advanced control strategies like Internal Model Control and robust control. The conclusions section represents the last part of the chapter