Application of predictive control technology at BP´s crude oil terminal at Grangemouth

Numerous projects are under way to prepare the oil terminal at BP´s Kinneil site in Grangemouth, Scotland for future changes in feed flow and composition. As part of this effort a Honeywell RMPCT multivariable controller has been implemented on the front end of the plant. This is where dissolved gas is separated from the crude oil. The gas is then processed and the crude oil is exported. Key aspects of this application differ from those normally encountered in refinery advanced control applications. The controller actively avoids capacity constraints whereas most applications seek to push units to constraints. This application is the first stage of a larger overall optimization effort that will eventually cover the downstream distillation section