Non-Linear Dynamics Simulation Study of a Reactive Distillation Process for the Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Production

Abstract

A rigorous numerical steady state multiplicity study of a reactive distillation process for ultra-low sulfur diesel production is presented. The complete bifurcation behaviour is analysed in terms of operating conditions such as holdup and reactive stages through bifurcation diagrams and dynamic simulation for two feed case scenarios. Disturbances in the hydrocarbon feed composition were found to cause transitions between parallel steady states and these were plotted using the dynamic capabilities of the column model; therefore, the reactive distillation process can display responses towards different steady states only for the first case. With the use of sensitivity criterion, it was possible to determine a start-up procedure and visualize a complex control structure for the reactive separation process. Finally, from the location of the singularities of higher codimension some conclusions are obtained to avoid the multiplicity region and to reach the required output targets.