Automated optimization of charge to industrial chemical reactor - producing methanol etc. self-compensates for charge parameter variations

摘要

Automated control system for chemical reactor which is continuously charged with several substances which may have varying parameters, the reactor producing a continuous output of which a constituent 'Y' is to be optimised by regulating the concentrations and physical parameters of the charged substances, i.e. to maximise the yield of 'Y' from the substances available. The concentration or other parameter, 'Xi' of each substance 'i' in the charge is varied sinusoidally with very small amplitude about a mean value 'Xio', e.g. according to the law Xi=Xio + gamma sincot, the variation of effective yield 'F' being automatically measured and the results integrated to feed back control signals which will regulate the parameters of charged substances to an optimum combination. The system is used for the automatic control of industrial chemical reactor process, partic. for the synthesis of methanol by catalysis of a mixture comprising CO CO2 and H2, the catalyst pref. being oxides or zinc and chromium.