Real-Time Optimization of an Industrial-Scale Vapor Recompression Distillation Process. Model Validation and Analysis

Abstract

The modeling, analysis, and simulation validation of an industrial-scale depropenizer column (Refinaria de Capuava, Maua, Saõ Paulo) owned by Petrobras S.A. are carried out using equation-oriented and sequential modular approaches. The model implemented in the equation-oriented environment proved to be suitable for real-time optimization (RTO) applications due to its robustness, fast convergence, and ability to represent the real process. The analysis of the model allows better understanding of the process and establishment of boundaries to process specifications and the parameters updated in the RTO cycle; furthermore, it is shown that feed composition and column pressure drop are critical aspects in the model to represent the actual process.

Desenvolvimento De Protótipo De Rto

“…A modelagem seguiu essas premissas e foi realizada em EMSO, um ambiente de simulação orientado a objetos. O modelo final foi baseado na proposta de modelagem em (MENDOZA et al, 2013), utilizando as mesmas hipóteses, e contém uma coluna de destilação com 197 pratos, um reboiler total, um tanque de distribuição, um compressor, um condensador auxiliar, três separadores de fluxo, dois misturadores de fluxo e três válvulas de expansão…”

Lessons learned from developing and implementing refinery production scheduling technologies

“…Right after the successful launch of operations research (OR) in the inventive military arena of World War II, the oil industry inaugurated the industrial use of OR techniques (Symonds, 1955) and since then has played a forerunner role in driving the OR-based industrial automation agenda forward (Table 1) (e.g., Bonner and Moore, 1979;Cutler and Ramaker, 1979;Lee et al, 1996;Steinschorn and Hofferl, 1997;Magalhães et al, 1998;Pinto et al, 2000;Moro, 2003;Magalhães, 2004;Liporace et al, 2009;Feital et al, 2013;Mendoza et al, 2013).…”

Application of Real-time Optimization with Persistent Parameter Adaptation (ROPA) to processes using online parameter estimation.

“…In the parameter estimation step, the steady-state data are used to update some key parameters of the model such that it can represent the plant in the actual condition. The third step uses the fitted (adjusted) model to find a new optimal operation point which becomes the new set point for the control system (MENDOZA et al, 2013).…”