Nonlinear control of polymerization reactor

• Published in: Computers & chemical engineering Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 757 - 763
• Main Authors: Özkan, G., Özen, Ş., Erdoğan, S., Hapoğlu, H., Alpbaz, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2001
• Subjects: Model based control; NARMAX model; Polymerization; Polymerization; Model based control; NARMAX model
• ISSN: 0098-1354; 1873-4375
• DOI: 10.1016/S0098-1354(01)00651-2

In this work, nonlinear model based control was applied to the free radical solution polymerization of styrene in a jacketted batch reactor and its performance was examined to reach the required monomer conversion and molecular weight. Optimal temperature profiles for the properties of polymer quality were evaluated using the Hamiltonian optimization method. Total simulation program having mass and energy balances of the jacketed polymerization reactor was used to calculate the optimal trajectories. For control purposes, several experimental and theoretical dynamic studies have been made to observe the validity of simulation program. Experimental and theoretical nonlinear model based control have been investigated to track the temperature at the optimal trajectory Two types of parametric and nonparametric models were evaluated to achieve the temperature control. For this purpose, reaction curve was obtained to calculate the system dynamic matrix as a nonparametric model. In all control work, heat input to the reactor was chosen as a manipulated variable. Nonlinear auto regressive moving average exogenous (NARMAX) giving a relation between heat input and reactor temperature was chosen to represent the system dynamic and this model was used to describe the related control system as a parametric model. NARMAX model parameters were determined by using Levenberg Marquard algorithm. A pseudo random binary sequence (P.R.B.S.) signal was employed to disturb the system. Total simulation program was used to calculate the system and control parameters. Several types and orders were used to construct the NARMAX models. The efficiency and the performance of the nonlinear model based control with the NARMAX model and dynamic matrix were tested to calculate the best model. Nonlinear model based control system was used to control the reactor temperature at desired temperature trajectory experimentally and theoretically. Theoretical simulation results were compared with experimental control data. It was concluded that the control simulation program represents the behavior of the controlled reactor temperature well. In addition, nonlinear model based control keeps the reactor temperature of optimal trajectory satisfactorily.