Dynamic Simulation and Computer Control of a Pilot Scale Fluidized Bed Reactor

Abstract

<p>A dynamic simulation of the pilot scale fluidized bed reactor in the Department of Chemical Engineering is developed based on mass/energy balance equations of the process. The unknown parameters in the model equations are estimated using dynamic data from the reactor. A preliminary control strategy for the reactor system is tested by simulation, and the results are used to aid in the implementation of the control system to the reactor. The control strategy is a cascade control system in which the inner loop regulates reaction temperature by proportional-integral control, using the ratio of hydrogen to n-butane feedrates as manipulated variable. The outer loop is a Dahlin's algorithm controller. which maintains the selectivity of propane at a specified setpoint by manipulating the reaction temperature setpoint to the inner loop.</p> <p>The control system performed less favourably on the real system than it did on the simulation model. This result is attributed primarily to the inability of fixed-parameter controllers to deal with highly non-linear and time varying processes. Alternate control methods are suggested which are designed to deal with these problems.</p>