Estimation of flows and temperatures in process networks

TLDR: In the course of daily operation of a petroleum refinery or chemical complex, many thousands of items of infor-mation are generated, gathered, and recorded, and these data are, in turn, used to plan, schedule, control, and evaluate process operations.

Abstract: In the course of daily operation of a petroleum refinery or chemical complex, many thousands of items of infor-mation are generated, gathered, and recorded. These data are, in turn, used to plan, schedule, control, and evaluate process operations. Because of the highly integrated nature of modern processes, inaccurate data taken from one part of the process can easily lead to poor decisions that affect other parts of the processes. For instance, if inventory and production data on one product are inaccurate, the manufacturer may be forced to substitute a premium grade product to meet his delivery, thereby incurring a quality giveaway and creating an additional demand for the substitute product. Or, he may have to procure the supply from some other sources at additional costs. Or, he may accumulate unnecessarily large inventory, thereby tying up production and storage facilities needed for other products. Because of the immense scale of operations, even a small percentage change in inventory or flow may make a substantial difference in revenues or profits. The availability of accurate and consistent process data is therefore crucial to all process analyses.