Column material balance control responsive to differential pressure over a column withdrawal tray

摘要

Overflash within a withdrawal zone of a complex fractionating column is monitored to provide a control characteristic related to the efficiency of the fractionation column, and associated processes linked to the column. To accurately monitor the overflash, notched weir means including an upright wall means, is positioned at the intersection of the withdrawal tray and the downcomers connecting the former with a lower, adjacent fractionating tray. Differential pressure measuring means is also provided with sensing means in the vicinity of the notched weir means. The differential pressure measuring means produces a signal characteristic of said overflash. A complex controller means, external of the column, generates correction operators in response to said signal. Respective control means regulate column feed and withdrawal streams in response to said correction operators and thus maintain a pre-selected material balance within the column.