Desenvolvimento de estratégias de controle convencional e avançado utilizando o Aveva Process Simulation

Abstract

The simulation and control of processes are fundamental to ensuring efficiency and safety during industrial operations. Thus, the development of control strategies through digital twins functions as a means of guaranteeing the operationality of a chemical industry. Furthermore, there are various ways to structure process control, ranging from more conventional techniques like PID control to more complex methods such as MPC. However, each method presents distinct parameters and offers advantages and disadvantages, meaning the system must be analyzed before a specific technique is applied.Therefore, this study seeks to understand control alternatives in two distinct case studies: the first addresses the mixing of streams at different temperatures, while the second involves controlling the feed flow rate in a distillation column. To outline the entire process, with the appropriate equipment and tools, the simulation environment was constructed using the Aveva Process Simulation (APS) software. Additionally, the Anaconda Navigator platform was used to apply the Python programming language within the closedloop control system. In this study, two process control approaches were applied: conventional PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control with tuning performed by the IMC (Internal Model Control) method—as well as the native control of the APS—and an advanced control method known as Model Predictive Control (MPC). It was noted that all techniques rapidly reached the setpoint, albeit through distinct control actions based on the defined parameters. The conventional control acted in a manner similar to the control established within the simulation platform, while the MPC could act quite aggressively. Therefore, the integration between Aveva and Python demonstrated a valid and efficient platform for applying control strategies, which, with appropriate tuning, were capable of responding robustly to setpoint changes.