Advanced process control using DMCplus/sup TM/

The purpose of advanced process control (APC) is to improve profitability by applying strategies which coordinate the regulatory control systems on the plant. This paper gives two illustrations of the successful DMCplus/sup TM/ approach to APC, using case studies of applications in the refining and chemicals industries. The case studies give a brief overview of the processes, describing process and optimisation strategies, the scope of the DMCplus controllers, how process nonlinearities are accommodated and a discussion of the critical success factors in these projects. APC has been particularly successful and well accepted in the refining industry. The case study 1 discusses a typical refinery unit - the fluid catalytic cracking unit. The case study 2 discusses an air separation unit which is a much less well covered APC application. In discussing the applications, various features of DMCplus are introduced.