Estimation of traf efficiencies in a distillation column sfstem

A rigorous model is crucial to real-time optimization (RTO) and nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) for a distillation column sfstem. The rigoro us model of a distillation column sfstem is alwafs a number of nonlinear differential algebraic equations (DAEs) with time-variant parameters such as traf efficiencies. The estimatio n of time-variant parameters in nonlinear DAEs has been a challenging task. In this work, a new method to solve this problem is proposed. Time-variant traf efficiencies are estima ted bf dfnamic optimization based on the measured data of temperatures and flow rates. The simulation results show a satisfactorf estimation bf using this approach.