In recent years, the level of activity in the application of on-line computer control to refinery processes has shown a rapid increase. Benefits from a supervisory control system include primary tangible gains such as increased yield of more valuable products and increased effective plant capacity. In addition, many intangible gains result from such a system, some of which may not be initially anticipated. Prerequisites to a successful computer control system and the various phases of development of an application are examined in this paper; experience with closed loop supervisory control systems on fluid catalytic cracking units in the Standard Oil Company of California is related.
Rapid advances in computer equipment technology have increased the capability and decreased the cost of computer control systems. Additional multiprocess control applications using a shared computer are anticipated; and more installations will combine supervisory and direct digital closed loop control with increased use of on-stream analyzers. Extension to optimization of groups of process units 2nd tn nvpriill refinery information systems will surely widespread. Further major advances ensured in this fast developing field.
In the last decade, on-line digital computer control of refinery processes has progressed from a mere possibility to an accepted tool. Since the initial application to a catalytic polymerization process in 1959, the number of on-line systems in refining applications has increased rapidly and was recently estimated to be in excess of 25 systems.' Another survey2 showed more than 200 digital control computers in use in petroleum and petrochemical installations worldwide. More than half of by H. SCHUYTEN, Chevron Research Company, Richmond, Calfornia, U.S.A.
Ces dernières années on vu l'utilisation des ordinateurs electroniques pour le contrôle direct des procédés de raffinage augmenter à une allure rapide. Des avantages découlant d'un système de surveillance, certains sont tangibles: meilleur rendement en produits de valeur et augmentation de la capacité effective de l'unité; mais un tel système apporte aussi des avantages intangibles, avantages qui, au départ, ne sont pas tous prévisibles. L'auteur examine les conditions requises pour la réussite d'un système de contrôle par ordinateur et les différentes étapes du développement d'une application; l'experience acquise sur des systèmes de contrôle de surveillance en boucle fermée installés sur des unités de cracking catalytique fluide de la Standard de Californie est citée.
Les progrès rapides parcourus dans la technologie du materie1 pour ordinateurs ont augmenté le potentiel des systèmes de contrôle et diminué leur coût. De nouvelles applications au contrôle simultané de plusieurs unités se partageant un seul ordinateur sont prévues; et des inqtnllnti
