Patent ID: 7194318
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A method of specifying a model predictive controller for optimizing and controlling a process comprising the steps of: a) selecting a material balance and energy balance compliant process boundary for said process, containing measurements of process variables and other parameters including variables whose values are derived from said measured variables to calculate at least one of the combination of steady state material balance and steady state energy balance to varying degrees as appropriate, wherein said process variables further comprising plurality of manipulated variables, plurality of controlled variables and plurality of feed forward variables; b) incorporating controlled imbalance constraints of varying limits of change in said steady state balance explicitly in addition to the constraints generally of process variables included in steady state optimization; c) monitoring said process in steps a) and b) and optimizing using a steady state optimizer generating in response thereto, control data for optimizing and controlling said process; and d) expanding the limits of the controlled imbalance constraints relating to said steady state balance resulting in asymmetrical control action; whereby creating said model predictive controller that can be used for complete control cycle of said process involving start up, normal operation and shut down; whereby an engineer can interconnect said model predictive controllers in accordance with material and energy connectivity of adjacent said processes forming a large-scale robust modular model predictive controller system.