Patent ID: 9037298
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: G05B,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling the biofuel output of a side stripper column of a biofuel production process, comprising: (a) determining, using a processor controller, operating variables of a side stripper column of a biofuel production process, wherein the operating variables comprise a valve position of a first valve configured to control a flow of feed steam into the side stripper column; (b) determining, using the processor controller, a target value for the temperature of a cook tube based upon the determined operating variables, wherein the cook tube is configured to adjust the quantity and energy content of cook flash steam into the side stripper column, wherein determining the target value for the temperature of the cook tube comprises determining operating variables of at least one of a plurality of distillation units of the biofuel production process, and determining the target value for the temperature of the cook tube based at least in part on the determined operating variables of the at least one of the plurality of distillation units, wherein the at least one of the plurality of distillation units are separate from the side stripper column, wherein the plurality of distillation units comprise a beer column and a rectifier column, wherein the beer column generates a flashed vapor that is directed into the rectifier column, and wherein the rectifier column circulates the flashed vapor between the rectifier column and the side stripper column; and (c) controlling, using the processor controller, the temperature of the cook tube by automatically adjusting an operating parameter of the biofuel production process based upon the target value, thereby controlling the biofuel output of the side stripper column, wherein controlling the temperature of the cook tube comprises controlling a second valve configured to control a flow of steam into the cook tube.