Non-Linear Multivariable Control of a Fluid Catalytic Cracking Process

Abstract

In this chapter, a non-linear constrained optimization strategy is proposed and applied to a fluid catalytic cracking reactor-regenerator section. A dynamic parameter update algorithm was developed and used to reduce the effect of larger modelling errors by regularly updating the selected model parameters. This algorithm is capable of adapting the model parameters in a non-linear model. This chapter also presents and discusses the dynamic process models identified from open-loop step test data. The constrained non-linear optimization algorithm and strategies were tested in real-time on a fluid catalytic cracking reactor-regenerator section and the results were compared to linear multivariable controller such as dynamic matrix control (DMC).