Process integration in distillation unit operations promises improved process efficiencies. However, to realize these benefits fit for purpose control structures are needed to ensure stable and on-specification operations. In practice, this requires the development of regulatory and advanced process controls accounting for nuances and intricacies of a given design and application. This manuscript focuses on developing a control structure for a novel industrial mass-integrated twin-column distillation configuration, where a multi-component crude methanol feed is refined into AA grade (ultra-high purity) methanol, while meeting many technical and economic requirements. To this end, a Digital Model (a dynamic process model) of the column configuration was developed and used to carry out a thorough dynamic analysis. Based on the understanding gained, a regulatory control layer was introduced to achieve stable operations. An advanced supervisory level control structure and a Model Predictive Control (MPC) structure were then developed and compared on the Digital model where both alternatives achieved on-specification (technical and economic) operations. It was illustrated that a well-designed control structure could achieve stable and on-specification control for this specific application. Further disturbance testing showed the MPC is marginal efficient than a supervisory control but has similar robustness.

蒸馏单元操作中的过程集成有望提高过程效率。然而，为了实现这些适合目的的好处，需要控制结构来确保稳定和符合规范的操作。在实践中，这需要制定监管和先进的过程控制，以解决给定设计和应用的细微差别和复杂性。这份手稿的重点是开发一种新型工业大规模集成双塔蒸馏配置的控制结构，其中多组分粗甲醇进料精炼成 AA 级（超高纯度）甲醇，同时满足许多技术和经济要求。为此，开发了塔配置的数字模型（动态过程模型）并用于进行彻底的动态分析。根据所获得的理解，引入了监管控制层以实现稳定运行。然后开发了先进的监督级控制结构和模型预测控制 (MPC) 结构，并在数字模型上进行比较，其中两种替代方案都实现了规范（技术和经济）操作。结果表明，设计良好的控制结构可以实现针对该特定应用的稳定且符合规范的控制。进一步的干扰测试表明，MPC 比监督控制效率低，但具有相似的鲁棒性。然后开发了先进的监督级控制结构和模型预测控制 (MPC) 结构，并在数字模型上进行比较，其中两种替代方案都实现了规范（技术和经济）操作。结果表明，设计良好的控制结构可以实现针对该特定应用的稳定且符合规范的控制。进一步的干扰测试表明，MPC 比监督控制效率低，但具有相似的鲁棒性。然后开发了先进的监督级控制结构和模型预测控制 (MPC) 结构，并在数字模型上进行比较，其中两种替代方案都实现了规范（技术和经济）操作。结果表明，设计良好的控制结构可以实现针对该特定应用的稳定且符合规范的控制。进一步的干扰测试表明 MPC 比监督控制效率低，但具有相似的鲁棒性。