Modelling & Predictive Control of a Crude Distillation Unit

The purpose of this project is to implement Model Predictive Control strategy to a
Crude Distillation Unit model and to compare it to PI controllers in terms of controller
performance. The motivation of this project comes to the fact that there is a need to
reduce CO2 emission and at the same time to reduce energy consumption within the
unit. The author has developed the CDU model using HYSYS and also in state-space
representation using MATLAB, the latter was being used to design MPC controllers.
From this project, it can be seen that the success of MPC implementation depends on
the accuracy of the plant model to represent actual process. The MPC controller proved
to be more effective in regulating the percent liquid level of the condenser but not so
effective for the other two variables being studied.