Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering 

Abstract: Process computers routinely collect hundreds to thousands of pieces of data from a multitude of plant sensors every few seconds. This has caused a “data overload” and due to the lack of appropriate analyses very little is currently being done to utilize this wealth of information. Operating personnel typically use only a few variables to monitor the plant's performance. However, multivariate statistical methods such as PLS (Partial Least Squares or Projection to Latent Structures) and PCA (Principal Component Analysis) are capable of compressing the information down into low dimensional spaces which retain most of the information. Using this method of statistical data compression a multivariate monitoring procedure analogous to the univariate Shewart Chart has been developed to efficiently monitor the performance of large processes, and to rapidly detect and identify important process changes. This procedure is demonstrated using simulations of two processes, a fluidized bed reactor and an extractive distillation column.

Abstract: The temperature and acentric factor dependence of the attractive term of the Peng—Robinson equation of state have been modified. The introduction of a single pure compound parameter allows the accurate reproduction of the vapor pressure data for a wide variety of substances. Nonpolar, polar nonassociating and associating compounds are equally well represented by the cubic PRSV equation of state. The conventional one-binary-parameter mixing rule allows the correlation of the vapor—liquid equilibrium data for a wide variety of binary systems. Only for systems formed by a polar compound (associating or not) and a saturated hydrocarbon, are results poorer than those obtained with conventional excess Gibbs energy functions.

Abstract: For processes described by linear transfer functions with additive disturbances, the best possible control in the mean square sense is realized when a minimum variance controller is implemented. It is shown that an estimate of the best possible control can be obtained by fitting a univariate time series to process data collected under routine control. No ‘identifiabuity’ constraints need be imposed. The use of this technique is demonstrated with pilot plant and production data. Pour les procedes decrits par des fonctions de transfert lineaires avec des perturbations additives, le meilleur controle possible au sens des moindres carres s'obtient avec un regulateur a variance minimum. On montre qu'on peut obtenir une estimation du meilleur controle possible en adaptant une serie chronologique univariee pour traiter des donnees recueillies lors d'un retrocontrole de routine. Il n'est pas necessaire d'imposer des contraintes d'«identificabilite». L'utilisation de cette technique est decrite par des donnees d'une usine pilote et des donnees de production.

Abstract: The kinetics of sorption of three basic dyes, namely, Chrysoidine (BO2), Astrazon Blue (BB3) and Astrazone Blue (BB69) onto sphagnum moss peat have been investigated. The study focuses on the application of three sorption kinetic models for predicting the uptake of basic dyes. The sorption behaviour is found to be second order, based on the assumption of a pseudo-second order mechanism. The rate constant of sorption, the equilibrium capacity and initial sorption rate with the effect of various peat doses and initial dye concentrations have also been predicted.