SIMULTANEOUS PROCESS AND CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN FOR STYRENE POLYMERIZATION

M. ASTEASUAIN, A. BRANDOLIN, C. SARMORIA, A. BANDONI

Buenos AIres, Argentina

Congreso; AADECA 2004; 2004

Chemical engineering science has recognized the necessity of integrating processdesign and control; however, few steps have been taken in this direction in polymerscience. In this work, a Mixed-Integer Dynamic Optimization approach is used for thesimultaneous design and control of a styrene polymerization reactor. A feedforward-feedback control scheme is optimally designed for grade transition operation. This taskincludes finding the "best" pairings between manipulated and controlled variables. Theprocess design, performed simultaneously with that of its control system, involves reactorand initiator selection, and steady-state operating points. A multiobjective optimization iscarried out to minimize both off-specification product during grade transition and steady-state cost objectives. Chemical engineering science has recognized the necessity of integrating processdesign and control; however, few steps have been taken in this direction in polymerscience. In this work, a Mixed-Integer Dynamic Optimization approach is used for thesimultaneous design and control of a styrene polymerization reactor. A feedforward-feedback control scheme is optimally designed for grade transition operation. This taskincludes finding the "best" pairings between manipulated and controlled variables. Theprocess design, performed simultaneously with that of its control system, involves reactorand initiator selection, and steady-state operating points. A multiobjective optimization iscarried out to minimize both off-specification product during grade transition and steady-state cost objectives