Experimental Demonstration of Nonlinear Model-Based Control of a Nonideal Binary Distillation Column

This paper reports experimental results of a nonlinear model-based controller applied to a lab-scale nonideal methanol-water distillation column. Both servo and regulatory control is demonstrated. Process characteristics include nonlinear multivariable interactions, nonideal thermodynamic behavior, significant disturbances, and disparate dynamics. A steady-state tray-to-tray model is developed, shown to adequately represent the process behavior, and is used in the Generic Model Control (GMC) law. Adjustable model parameters are tray efficiency and a vapor boilup bias.