Optimizing Ethylene Plant Production Using Model Predictive Control and Dynamic Real Time Optimization

摘要

Basell Polyolefine GmbH owns and operates two ethylene plants at Wesseling, Germany. To maximize the profit from one of its ethylene plants, Basell implemented a large-scale advanced process control (APC) and optimization project named "Schmetterling". The project was awarded in January 2002 to Honeywell Process Solutions. Use has been made of a Dynamic Plant Optimizer running on top of an APC level and a third party DCS system. Special attention was paid to obtain acceptance by operations as this was identified as the most important key success factor. This paper highlights the overall project and details the optimization application. Moreover it focuses on key success factors and lessons learned.