Simulated control in Aspen Dynamics for the production of limonene epoxide at pilot scale

Abstract

In this contribution is reported the study and analysis of the control system (simulated) for the process of obtaining limonene epoxide. The modelling of the process at pilot scale was implemented in the software Aspen Plus from literature reports. Aspen Dynamics was used for the study of the process control. The model allows observing the behavior of the variables of interest in the process such as outflows from the distillation tower, heat duty, operating temperaturas and purity of the final product (limonene epoxide). The performance of the controllers (level, flow and temperature) was evaluated by simulating disturbances (+30%) in the feedstream to the process. Sensitivity analysis and preliminary design specifications allow to conclude that according to the simulations it is possible to obtain limonene epoxide (97,5% w/w) with this system. The results of this work can be used for more detailed studies of the system, including experimental study designs that help to determine the operating point for the process variables which increase limonene epoxide production.

Keywords

• análisis de sensibilidad
• Aspen Dynamics
• procesos dinámicos
• simulación en Aspen
• sistema de control