Control of Reactive Distillation Column: A Review

The objective of this paper is to give a critical survey of the present status within the field of control of a reactive distillation column. Control of a reactive distillation column is a challenging task due to process nonlinearity and complex interactions between the vapor-liquid equilibrium and chemical reactions. There are different types of control methodologies, which have been studied in the reactive distillation, ranging from a simple proportional-integral (PI) controller to advanced model predictive controllers (MPC) such as dynamic matrix control (DMC), quadratic dynamic matrix control (QDMC), robust multivariable predictive control technology (RMPCT), generalized predictive control (GPC), and other advanced control techniques. With the goals of optimal performance, energy conservation and cost effectiveness of process operations in industries, the design of optimal controllers and controller performance assessment have received great attention in both industries and academia. The main objective of control is to maintain the product purity within the desired range.