Studies in the synthesis of control structures for chemical processes: Part IV. Design of steady‐state optimizing control structures for chemical process units

The design of the steady‐state optimizing control for a single unit is formulated within the framework of the nonlinear mathematical programming theory. Alternative implementational strategies are developed and a multilevel screening procedure is proposed to arrive at the best optimizing control configuration. Numerical examples on a fluid catalytic cracking unit and a distillation column demonstrate the systematic design and the synthesis of the most promising optimizing control structures for these systems.