SET-POINT OPTIMIZATION OF AN ADIABATIC TRICKLE-BED REACTOR SYSTEM

A combined system parameter estimation and deactivation model identification procedure is proposed to create a grey model of an adiabatic residue hydrodesulfurization (RDS) trickle‐bed reactor. Using the resulting grey model, a precomputed set‐point table is used to optimize the set‐point of the RDS reactor unit. The objective function chosen is the predetermined reactor outlet sulfur content and the optimal set‐point is the reactor inlet temperature. Five crucial case studies using a dynamic simulator of an adiabatic RDS trickle‐bed reactor demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm in developing optimal set‐points for a commercial process. Copyright © 1990 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering