METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS PROCESSES

摘要

A method for controlling a process for synthesising at least one chemical in a plant including at least one reactor (R) that may be considered as a perfectly mixed reactor, wherein control variables (GC) enable the process to be controlled so that a number of variables known as controlled variables (GR) and related to the properties of the product and/or the operation of the process match corresponding set values (CGR). Said method comprises the steps of (a) inputting set values for the controlled variables (CGR); (b) using a prediction unit (OP) to calculate predictions of the controlled variables (PGR) on the basis of measurements of the process control variables (MGC); (c) using a control unit (OC) to calculate set values for the process control variables (CGC) on the basis of the set values (CGR) and predictions (PGR) of the controlled variables; and (d) transmitting set values for the process control variables (CGC) to process control actuators. The prediction unit (OP) is based on a mathematical process model known as a direct model (M), and designed in such a way that the mass MXR of at least one component (X) in the reactor (R) is predicted by means of the equation MXR = LAG (FXRin . tau X, tau X), wherein FXRin is the mass flow rate of component X at the inlet of the reactor R, tau X is the dwell time of x in the reactor, and the function y = LAG (u, tau ) is the solution of the differential equation tau . dy/dt + y, calculated with the instantaneous value of u and tau as well as with the last calculated value of y.