A Stochastic Simulator of a Multi-Component Distillation Tower Built as an Excel Macro

Abstract

Dynamic process simulation is widely used in teaching controller design, as it allows foreseeing the performance of different control configurations and controller tunings. Currently, most college-level controller design exercises that are based on simulation consider deterministic perturbations (i.e. steps or ramps). In real life however, processes are more likely to face fluctuating, random disturbances, so the use of stochastic simulation in controller tuning exercises would provide students with an experience closer to their future professional practice than that provided by deterministic simulation. However, public institutions attempting to use dynamic, stochastic simulators in teaching, are hindered by the need of buying licenses of simulation packages or specialized programming languages (such as Matlab), as there aren´t any dynamic, stochastic simulators available as downloadable freeware. This paper shows a dynamic, stochastic simulator with a friendly interface of a distillation tower, developed as an Excel macro. This simulator has the advantage that it can be used at no cost to educational institutions since Excel is almost universally known and used by college faculties.