An Adaptive Control Concept for Simulated Moving Bed Plants under Reduced Purity Requirements

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 31; no. 12; pp. 1816 - 1823
• Main Author: Futterer, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.12.2008; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Controller; Exact sciences and technology; Separation techniques; Simulated moving bed (SMB); Purity; Simulated moving bed; Adaptive control; Modeling; Chromatography
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.200800373

Simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography is an increasingly used separation technology. Several chromatographic columns are interconnected to form a ring. Cyclically, the feedings and drains are changed to allow a continuous separation. This process is very sensitive to parameter variation and disturbances. For this reason, an adaptive controller is suggested. The proposed controller is based on a simplified model and automatically adjusts the volumetric flow rates and switching time in order to achieve the desired purities. Simulation results are presented to give a first impression of the capabilities of this new control concept. A new adaptive control concept for adjusting the purities of SMB plants is presented here. It is based on a simple nonlinear model for the movements of the foot points of the concentration fronts. Simulation results are presented to give a first impression of the capabilities of this new control concept.