Control Strategies of the 13C Cryogenic Separation Column

Abstract

The main requirement for an efficient carbon isotope separation in a cryogenic distillation column is to maintain the operating parameters at constant levels. This paper uses some simplified nonlinear equations of the carbon isotope separation process that model the isotope transfer rate, the top and bottom column temperatures. The control strategies proposed in this paper are an optimal, linear quadratic regulator that effectively rejects the disturbances in temperature variations, thus allowing only minor variations in the isotope transfer rate and a robust nonlinear controller, based on feedback linearization and a H controller that ensures the robust stability despite modeling uncertainties.