What Is Advanced Process Control ?

Advanced Process Control includes Multi-variable Predictive Control (MPC) solutions that provide closed loop control and real-time model-based control of a continuous process using empirical or first-principles models. MPC controllers are configured by process engineers and run in the real-time operational environment.

The online optimization continuously monitors the state of multiple processes through a model reference to predict an optimum operation path. Online optimization software typically employs technology for solving simultaneous equations. Presentation of the output of the optimization software may simply be in an advisory fashion to the operator or may directly set a new target to a lower-level control strategy.

Advanced process control includes model-based software that is used to direct the process operation and is commonly referred to as multivariable predictive control (MPC) or model predictive control. These applications require that the process model created accurately represents the process dynamics. Improved economics of the operation or production improvements are typical driving forces for using these applications.

Advanced Process Control

Advanced process control software may include:

  • Offline and online model building, model verification, and data analysis tools that ensure model accuracy.
  • Software to collect historical data from control systems or online process historian systems.
  • Operator guidance and advise on where the APC is driving the process.
  • Prediction of controlled variables based on future planned moves of manipulated variables.
  • Run-time APC tuning to adjust for changes in process dynamics without having to rebuild the model.
  • APC controller monitoring and performance analysis software, and not the PID or process controller tuning and related performance

ARC analysts maintain an in-depth analysis of the global real-time advanced control and online optimization software markets.  

 

 

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