(151b) Implementation of Unit-Wide Advanced Process Control in An Ethylene Plant

This paper gives a general overview of the Advanced Process Control (APC) solution in the Shell Chemical Ethylene plant in Deerpark TX. APC has been implemented on both the Hot side (12 pyrolysis furnaces and pyrolysis fractionation column) and the Coldside (compressors, core heat exchangers and fractionation train) of the plant. Implementation of the APC is performed with the SMOCPro Advancded Process Control package from Shell Global Solutions. Particular features, like intermediate variables, are highlighted. The APC is experiancing very high uptime numbers and remains on during furnance transitions. The paper also shows various economic benefits that are achieved with the APC solutions.