CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

5.1 Preface

This chapter will conclude about the result and the model recommended of this
study in section 5.2 and 5.3 respectively. In section 5.2.1, it concludes the data analysis
of the Depropanizer process and the factors that affecting the Depropanizer
performance. The development of the inferential control of Depropanizer has been
concluding in section 5.2.2 and the proposed control model in section 5.2.3.

Furthermore, the future or recommendation for preparation and characterization

of future model development was briefly discussed in section 5.3 that may importance
in industry application.

5.2 Result Summary

One of the alternatives that can be taken to reduce problem regarding

composition analyser is by installing an inferential control into the system. Inferential
control is commonly done by measuring secondary process variables which are
then used in estimating the primary controlled variables.

The potential of the model to be build as the soft sensor in the industry to
evaluate the composition of the top product was proven by the result obtained in
previous chapter which was concluding in section 5.2.1, 5.2.2, and 5.2.3.
5.2.1 Preparation

From the data preparation study, it can be conclude that the adsorption process
was be affected by several variables such the energy input to the distillation column, feed
condition (temperature), reflux flowrate which somehow affected the top tray temperature
subsequently affect the quality of the product. The energy input was directly influencing
the top tray temperature while the feed condition and the reflux ratio is considered as the
unconditional disturbance. The dispersion of the data was calculated, and it has been
discovered that only 80% of the data lies between the range which means only 80% of the
data was reliable for assessment.

5.2.2 Development of The Inferential Control of Depropanizer

As conclusion, a new approach has been proposed to design a data-driven

inferential sensor for estimation of concentration of iC4 in the Depropanizer. In this
approach, a cubic regression based on the top tray temperature of the Depropanizer is
used. The top tray was chosen as the secondary measurement as it has the highest
correlation with the iC4 quality and the trend of the fluctuation of the data was identical.
.

5.2.3 Proposed Control Model

Throughout the data analysis, the fluctuation of the top tray temperature is
uncertainly wild, and it can be assumed that the model developed is less reliable followed
by the lag time of energy input from the bottom Heat Exchanger. Plus, the fluctuation of
tray temperature also affected by the feed composition which varies from time to time.
Further study and analysis of tray temperature proves the relation between vapor pressure
and boiling temperature in binary mixture which can be used to enhance the control in the
distillation column.

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5.3 Future Study

The recommendation for future study is essential in order to bring soft sensor model
for industrial application or commercialization. In advance, the novelty and potential of this
study can be improved. For further improvement of the control performance of the
purposed control system should be investigated. The advantage of using cascade control
together with predictive inferential control has been clearly shown. Furthermore, it is very
important from the practical viewpoint that the cascade control system can give good
performance without iteration of modeling and control system design.

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