Control strategies of chemical reactors for industrial processes

Abstract

Every minute some research work is being carried out by eminent scientists and technologists for the welfare of human beings. The objective of this thesis is to develop transfer function models and proper control strategies for the improvement of processes. Most of the industrial chemical reactors are complex in nature, non-linear, possess uncertainty dynamics, a lack of complete knowledge and its measurements and work under unsafe operating conditions. Hence control of chemical reactors is a task of great significance. In this regards three important industrial products and the relative processes have been taken up for study through stipulated process modeling. The focus of this research is on the implementation of control strategies of various chemical reactors for the three identified industrial processes. The first is fine tuning of the controller for polymerization of vinyl Chloride into Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) production in a glass lined batch reactor. The second is the reaction process of Dicumyl Peroxide (DCPO) in a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR). The third is Phthalic Anhydride (PAN), as continuous process in a fluidized-bed catalytic reactor (FBR). Polyvinyl Chloride resin is an important plastic material for several applications like flexible PVC cables, storage of mineral acid, alkali and chemicals besides water, automobiles, domestic products and many more products. PVC is a universally accepted plastic material and the demand for PVC resin is increasing continually. newline