Simulation platform of an industrial propylene-propane splitter integrated to Advanced Process Control for Real Time Optimization experiments

The present paper shows the development of a dynamic rigorous model of a propylene-propane splitter connected to an industrial MPC controller via OPC-UA. The model includes the material and energy balances, thermodynamic equilibrium, and constitutive equations. Some of the PI controllers presented in the real plant have also been modeled. A dynamic model requires further information as the sizing of the equipments, heat transfer coefficients, thermodynamics data and a good initial value for the state and algebraic variables. The validation of the model was performed in open loop and in closed loop simulations. The simulation results were compared to the historical data of the process. As future work, the simulation platform created will be used to study new algorithms of RTO with Modifier Adaptation methodology.