Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.48, No.24, 11048-11059, 2009
Unusual Control Structure for High Reflux Ratio Distillation Columns
Distillation control wisdom suggests that reflux flow rate should be used to control the reflux-drum level when the reflux ratio is large (>3). In the typical case where a single-end temperature control structure is used, reboiler heat input is used to control a tray temperature at an appropriate location in the column. When the reflux ratio is large and reflux is used to control the reflux-drum level, a frequently used scheme controls the reflux ratio by measuring the reflux flow rate and rationing the distillate flow rate to the reflux flow rate. However, in many single-end distillation control structures, the inherent ability to handle feed composition disturbances is better for a fixed reflux-to-feed ratio than for a fixed reflux ratio, Using reflux to control the reflux-drum level precludes the use of this structure. This dilemma can be resolved by using an unusual control structure in which the reflux-drum level is controlled by reboiler heat input and a tray temperature is controlled by manipulating the distillate flow rate. The effectiveness of this nonconventional structure is demonstrated in this paper for a highly nonlinear azeotropic system of water, acetic acid, and formic acid.