Providing a Practical Method for Automatic Start-Up of Reactive Distillation Column Using Decentralized Control of CVs Trajectory Based on Residue Curve Maps (RCM) Analysis: The Methyl Acetate Case

The primary purpose of this feasibility study is to use an appropriate decentralized control configuration (based on PID controllers) to automatically navigate the startup trajectory of a reactive distillation column in the presence of azeotropic points. The purpose of this article is to show how a conceptual understanding of the Reactive Residual Curve Map (R-RCM) may be utilized to define a trajectory for directing the control variables during startup. The results demonstrate that steering the startup operation using a two-point temperature control structure with the feed rate of the reactants specified as the control manipulator is more efficient than other structures. Examining the various startup strategies shows several steady-state conditions at the end of the start-up time. This is because only a unique approach will achieve the desired steady-state condition. According to the findings, the controller tuning parameters play a significant impact in steering the startup trajectory. For this case study, the gain and integral time values for both controllers should be approximately one-third and three times, respectively, of the values found under normal operating conditions.