Study and application of dynamic matrix control in refinery processes

Advanced process control (APC) technologies have been widely used to improve plant profitability and reliability in the last several decades. Dynamic matrix control (DMC) is one of these technologies, and plays an important role in refinery and petrochemical plant APC practice. There are many factors that may impact the success of an APC project, including technological and non-technological issues. The engineering aspects of APC project are discussed and explained by the details of execution of a crude unit APC application. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how to integrate DMC technology and fundamental process control knowledge for getting the APC project done.