Title: Study of the Control Systems of a Distillation Process Equipped with Heat Pump
Abstract: The paper presents the results of the researches on the modelling and simulation of the propylene-propane mixture distillation process equipped with heat pump. Industrial data regarding the process structure, operating data and control structure are presented. Modelling and simulation of the process was accomplished using the resources of the Unisim Design simulator. Because the simulator does not include a mathematical model associated with the distillation process equipped with heat pump, the distillation column model was replaced with the Reboiled Absorber model from the simulation environment library. An analysis of the multivariable character of the distillation process revealed discrepancies between the structure determined by the Relative Gain Array analysis and the industrial control structure. The design of the control systems requires dynamic simulation of the process, so the authors� research was focused on the dynamic simulation of the absorption process. The obtained dynamic model was the starting point for testing the propylene quality control system. Finally, the optimal operating conditions for this process were analyzed.