The most prominent example of process intensification by process integration is reactive distillation (RD), which can realize a high reactant conversion and a high purity of the target product in equilibrium-limited reaction systems. Reactive distillation is mostly used for single reactions, but realizations for multiple-reaction systems leading to more than one target product can also be found. In multipurpose chemical processes, the target product of a multiple-reaction system can be switched during the production. When combining fluid separation and multiple-reaction systems, e.g., in a RD column, it is challenging to find operating conditions that lead to the most profitable operation of the process. Economics optimizing control where an economic objective is employed in a model-predictive control framework has the potential to drive the process to the economic optimum during operation based upon a process model and online measurements. However, so far only few applications of such advanced process control (APC) concepts to reactive distillation processes have been realized and these do not concern multiple-reaction systems. In this contribution, we describe the application of economics optimizing control to a multiproduct RD process. The selected case study is a homogeneously catalyzed two-step transesterification reaction that is performed in a RD column in pilot-plant scale.

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通过经济优化控制优化中试反应精馏过程的动态性能

通过过程集成进行过程强化的最突出示例是反应精馏（RD），它可以在平衡受限的反应系统中实现高反应物转化率和目标产物的高纯度。反应蒸馏主要用于单反应，但是也可以找到导致多于一种目标产物的多反应系统。在多用途化学过程中，可以在生产过程中切换多反应系统的目标产品。当将流体分离和多反应系统结合在一起时，例如在RD色谱柱中，寻找导致该工艺最有利可图的操作的操作条件是一项挑战。在模型预测控制框架中采用经济目标的经济优化控制有潜力根据过程模型和在线测量在运行过程中将过程推向经济最佳状态。然而，迄今为止，仅实现了这种高级过程控制（APC）概念在反应蒸馏过程中的很少应用，并且这些都与多反应系统无关。在本文中，我们描述了经济优化控制在多产品RD过程中的应用。所选案例研究是在中试规模的RD色谱柱中进行的均相催化两步酯交换反应。迄今为止，仅实现了这种高级过程控制（APC）概念在反应蒸馏过程中的很少应用，并且这些都与多反应系统无关。在本文中，我们描述了经济优化控制在多产品RD过程中的应用。所选案例研究是在中试规模的RD色谱柱中进行的均相催化两步酯交换反应。迄今为止，仅实现了这种高级过程控制（APC）概念在反应蒸馏过程中的很少应用，并且这些都与多反应系统无关。在本文中，我们描述了经济优化控制在多产品RD过程中的应用。所选案例研究是在中试规模的RD色谱柱中进行的均相催化两步酯交换反应。