Computer Modeling and Control

When I first went to work in the process industry in 1964, computer control was in its infancy. The use of computer modeling of distillation towers was just beginning. 1 believe 1 was the first person in the oil refining industry to model a crude distillation tower with  

In 1968,1 was the technical support engineer on the crude distillation unit at the Amoco Refinery in Whiting, Indiana. My job was to implement a new computer control program for the automated operation of the unit. Basically, I was to convince the operators that automated, direct, on-line computer control could produce more consistent product specifications than an experienced panel board operator. One of the factors that led to my failure in this assignment was that in 19681 was not sure if this was true. Now, in 2014, I m still not convinced that direct computer control of refinery processes is always the best approach. 

The situation regarding computer modeling is somewhat more straightforward. No engineering calculation can be better than the assumptions used as a basis to carry out the calculations. 

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Khang, G. and Zajac, F.E., Paraplegic standing controUed by functional electrical stimulation part I — computer model and control-system design part II —computer simulation studies, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. BME-36 873-893,1989. 

Bhat, N. V., and McAvoy, T. J., Use of neural nets for dynamic modeling and control of chemical process systems. Comput. Chem. Eng. 14, 573 (1990). 

Axelsson JP, Munch T, Sonnleitner B (1992) In Karim N (ed) Computer applications in fermentation technology - modelling and control of bioprocesses. Pergamon, p 383... 

Kuipers, J. A. M., and van Swaaij, W. P. M., Developing flow in CFB-risers A computational study of the effect of riser inlet configuration on flow stmcture development. Workshop II on Modelling and Control of Fluidizied Bed Systems, CFB-5, Beijing (1996). 

Thibault, J., Taylor, D., and Eonteix, C. (2001). Multicriteria optimization for the production of gluconic acid. 8 International Conference on Computer Applications in Biotechnology Modeling and Control of Biological Processes, Quebec City, Canada, 24-27. 

The risk of failure or the fear of malpractice often precludes the design and evaluation of controllers in live humans, so that devices and treatments are often tested on computer and animal models first. In the past, animals have been the preferred choice, but this approach is continually being reevaluated. Whereas most researchers readily agree that animal experimentation has been and will continue to be necessary for the advancement of medical science, most would welcome methods and procedures that might reduce or even eliminate the use of animals. Furthermore, animals are rarely perfect models of human diseases and conditions. Thus, there has been and wiU continue to be a demand for alternative models and procedures. Tissue cultures are beginning to fill some of this need, and it is hfcely that computer modeling and simulation may also fill this need. 

The most widely distributed methodology of complex control systems SA is based on computer modeling and simulation (M S) using special methods and software for stability analysis. The typical phases of closed-loop control systems SA by means of M S are the following ... 

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