Tuning and stability analysis of a top of a distillation column

Abstract

A control strategy is developed to determine the appropriate control loops that let the column to operate at steady state without flooding, weeping and entrainment. The aim is to operate the column with the required top composition. From the control strategy, block diagram is constructed and the transfer functions are identified. From this block diagram the overall transfer function is calculated and the characteristic equation is obtained for closed loop [1]. The characteristic equation is then used for stability analysis, tuning, offset investigation and response simulation [2].