Grant Stephenson,
Honeywell Hi-Spec,
London, Canada.

Differential-Algebraic Systems in Industrial Plant Simulation Some Personal Experiences

In the field of industrial plant simulation, mathematical models of industrial processes are solved to predict plant operation under varying conditions. These models can be used for many purposes including plant design, analysis of operating problems, assessment of control strategies, optimization of plant operation and training of plant operators.

A plant simulation is typically comprised of a large number of mathematical models each representing some aspect of the processing performed by individual pieces of equipment or the control strategies implemented in the distributed control system. These mathematical models are logically connected to form an integrated model of the plant just as the process piping, electrical wiring and pneumatic tubing connect the equipment in the physical plant. Each equipment model is either a system of nonlinear algebraic equations or differential-algebraic equations.

This presentation describes some of the presenter's experiences building and solving mathematical models for piping networks, cryogenic heat exchangers used in natural gas liquefaction and distillation columns in the context of training operators of industrial plants.