Hierarchical MPC ‐based control structure for continuous biodiesel production

Abstract

This paper presents an advanced control strategy for a continuous biodiesel productionplant based on a steady-state optimizer and model predictive control. Theproposed control system aims to optimize the production process and maintain productquality within required specifications. First, two steady-state optimizers weredeveloped with the aim of minimizing the steady-state deviations of the manipulatedand controlled variables and minimizing the biodiesel production cost. A model predictivecontrol was then formulated to track the setpoints imposed by the steady-stateoptimizers in real time and manipulate the control inputs accordingly. The effectivenessof the proposed control strategy is demonstrated through dynamic simulationstudies performed using Hysys and Matlab. The results obtained using the proposedcontrol methodology show significant improvements in performance compared toconventional control strategies. Furthermore, it avoids the quality problem reflectedin the amount of water in the final product that the original plant presented due toan inadequate design of the control strategy. Overall, the results of this research indicatethat the proposed advanced control strategy has the potential to improve theefficiency and profitability of continuous biodiesel production plants.