Advanced models for cryogenic distillation columns

Cryogenic air separation plants are widely used in industry but are energy consuming processes. The operating costs justify the need for an efficient control of the distillation process. Dynamic models of separation columns are complex and of high order making their use in control design practically impossible. This paper focuses on nonlinear wave models which are commonly used to provide a reduced order description of distillation column dynamic, highlighting the wide range of applicability.