Real Time Optimization for steam management in an evaporation section

Abstract The aim of this paper is to implement a Real Time Optimization in an evaporation section of a sugar factory using a methodology that reduces the time required for developing models using an Equation Based Object Oriented Language. The drawbacks, advances and troubleshooting when using this technique are described. In particular, how to determine the observability and redundancy of measurements with an Equation Based Object Oriented Language is explained. For the energy optimization of the evaporation, an approach that minimizes a Resource Efficiency Indicator (REI) is used. Together with this methodology, a configurable tool, integrated with the simulation and optimization packages and connected to the industrial network plant, has been developed. The tool provides a friendly user interface that delivers information about the performance of the process, Resource Efficiency Indicators and trend graphs. The tests performed in the sugar campaign show that the energy efficiency of the process can be increased significantly if the results provided by the RTO are followed.