Process Simulation and Control

Probably no part of the polystyrene production plant has changed as much over the last 30 years as the methods of process control. The early polystyrene processes required little process control because they were operated at reaction rates that were inherently stable. For polystyrene, a rule of thumb is that the reaction rate doubles with every increase in temperature of 10 °C. If the reaction is conducted at rates that evolve heat at a rate that requires a temperature 

Computer control of the operating parameters to maintain setpoints, the use of off-line kinetic models to determine operating conditions, and the use of online models to make predictions of the intermediate parameters and the final product properties as a function of the operating history have all become commonplace in industry over the last 30 years. This certainly has had a strong influence on the improvements in product quality and uniformity and the large increases in production rate that have occurred over this period of time. 

Debell, J. M et al., German Plastics Practice, Debell and Richardson, Springfield, MA (1946). 

and Chappelear, D. C., Technology of Styrenic Polymerization Reactors and Processes, ACS Symposium Series 104, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC (1979). 

Meister, B. J., and Malanga, M. T., in Styrene Polymers, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 16, Wiley, New York, pp. 21-61 (1989). 

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Executive program (flowsheet solver) The heart of any process simulator and controls the sequence of the calculations and the overall convergence of the simulation... 

The creation and analysis of process flow sheets has become much easier because of the availabihty of automated systems to draw and revise them. The goal of the use of the flow sheet as the input for process simulation and for process control is likely to be achieved reasonably soon. The use of interactive graphic displays for process monitoring and control is pervasive today. 

Luyben, W.L. Process Modeling, Simulation and Control for Chemical Engineers, Mcgraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1973. 

The Simulation and Control of the Reactive Distillation Process for Dimethylcarbonate Production... 

Modeling, Simulation and Control of Chemical Reaction Systems Nano Materials Synthesis and Application Novel Reactors and Processes Polymer Reaction Engineering... 

Luyben, W. L. (1973) Process Modelling, Simulation, and Control for Chemical Engineers, McGraw-Hill. 

PROCESS MODELING, SIMULATION, AND CONTROL FOR CHEMICAL ENGINEERS... 

But how do we decide how to control this plant We will spend most of our time in this book exploring this important design and operating problem. AH our studies of mathematical modeling, simulation, and control theory are aimed at undeistanding the dynamics of processes and control systems so that we can develop and design better, more easily controlled plants that operate more efficiently and more safely. 

Process modeling, simulation, and control for chemical engineers. 

The module REFORMER constructs the user-requested simulation and controls the numerical calculations. It simulates the process scheme and... 

Just how these modes of action are achieved in relatively inexpensive pneumatic or electrical devices is explained in books on control instruments, for example, that of Considine (Process Instruments and Controls Handbook, Sec. 17,1974). The low prices and considerable flexibility of PID controllers make them the dominant types in use, and have discouraged the development of possibly superior types, particularly as one-shot deals which would be the usual case in process plants. Any desired mode of action can be simulated by a computer, but at a price. 

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