Dynamics and control of totally reboiled reactive distillation columns

The object of the study is the totally reboiled reactive distillation columns. In the current work, transfer function based process models exhibits the dynamics and operation of TRRDCs. In the reaction operation and the separation operation, there are the special topological configuration and the intricate interplay, resulting in under-damped step responses. The under-dampness can be substantially alleviated through the tight inventory control of bottom reboiler and this presents beneficial effects to process dynamics and operation. Two illustrative examples, a hypothetical synthesis reaction from A and B to C, and a real decomposition reaction from 1, 4-butanediol to tetrahydrofuran and water are used to demonstrate the dynamics and the performance of the above control strategy.