Control theory issues in the integrated design/redesign of industrial processes

Some of the major technological challenges facing the process industries stem from the requirements for higher efficiency, improved performance in the operation, ability to cope with disturbances, while at the same time satisfying strict environmental and safety regulations and flexibility in operational conditions. The changes in operational requirements generate new technological challenges. Studies on process controllability, operability, flexibility, hazards, provide indispensable tools in the effort to integrate operational and design issues. The development of a systems based framework is essential in handling the multitude of issues of integrated design and it is a long term task. Within the general area we have the more restrictive problem of process redesign, which is a special case of the general integrated design problems.