Abstract

MEDINA-LEANOS, R.; SEGOVIA-HERNANDEZ, J.G.  and  FELIX-FLORES, M.G.. Dynamic behavior of thermally coupled reactive distillation sequences for different operating conditions. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2011, vol.10, n.1, pp.147-160. ISSN 1665-2738.

Thermally coupled reactive distillation sequences can provide significant energy savings with respect to the operation of sequences based on conventional reactive distillation columns. Thermally coupled reactive distillation configurations exhibit a complex structure, with recycle streams, that appear to affect their controllability properties. One potential solution to this problem has been suggested through the operation of complex reactive arrangements under conditions that do not provide minimum energy consumption. The basic idea is that if one changes the operation po int, the control properties might change as well. In this work, we analyze the dynamic behavior of two thermally coupled reactive distillation sequences under different operating points, including the one with minimum energy consumption. The control analysis properties are analyzed with the application of the singular value decomposition technique in all frequency domain and closed-loop dynamic responses using standard PI controllers. The results show that the controllability properties of complex reactive distillation sequences may change significantly depending on the selected operation point.

Keywords : energy savings; thermal coupling; reactive distillation; control properties.