Analysis of Dynamic Characteristics and Control Strategies of a Solvent Dehydration Distillation Column in a Purified Terephthalic Acid Plant

Abstract

In this study, a solvent dehydration column of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant was used as the research object. Based on a dynamic model of the solvent dehydration column, a dynamic sensitivity analysis of the key parameters was carried out using Aspen Dynamics. After the dynamic model reached stability, the reflux rate, methyl acetate concentration, and reflux temperature of the solvent dehydration column were adjusted and the changes of the key separation indexes under the corresponding disturbance were analyzed. According to the analysis results, a sensitive plate temperature controller was added to carry out the dynamic sensitivity analysis. In addition, the acetic acid (HAc) concentration of the bottom of the column was found to be unstable in the dynamic sensitivity analysis. Considering the HAc concentration controller of the column bottom, two control strategies were designed. By analyzing the dynamic response of the feed flow disturbance under different control strategies, a more suitable control strategy under different conditions was obtained. From this, a reasonable method could be derived to design the control strategy, thereby providing a theoretical basis for further real-time optimization and advanced control of solvent dehydration in a PTA plant.