Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Other

Ali Esmaili

Joshua David Isom

Catherine Catino Latshaw

Camilo Mancilla

Oliver Jacob Smith, Iv

Suyash Singh

Xianming Jimmy Li

William Robert Licht

Eric J Guter

Kevin Boyle Fogash

Sanjay Mehta

Matthew James Labuda

Blaine Edward Herb

Montgomery Alger

Debashis Neogi

Hu Li

Carlos A Valenzuela

Thomas Joseph Bzik

Sharad Kumar

Andrew Timothy Stamps

Oliver Jacob Smith

Oliver Jacob Smith Iv

Oliver J Smith Iv

A method of operating a furnace having process tubes and multiple burners where it is desired to conform the temperatures of the process tubes to selected target temperature criterion. The present method provides a systematic and quantitative approach to determine how to adjust burner flow rates to result in desired tube wall temperatures, for example, using objective functions to decrease the probability that temperatures pertaining to the plurality of process tubes exceed their selected limit temperatures. An objective function can also be used to reduce the excess oxidant requirement for the furnace.

Method of operating a furnace

Controlling flow of gas in a gas pipeline network, wherein flow of gas within each of the pipeline segments is associated with a direction (positive or negative). Processors calculate minimum and maximum production rates (bounds) at the gas production plant to satisfy an energy consumption constraint over a period of time. The production rate bounds are used to calculate minimum and maximum signed flow rates (bounds) for each pipeline segment. A nonlinear pressure drop relationship is linearized to create a linear pressure drop model for each pipeline segment. A network flow solution is calculated, using the linear pressure drop model, comprising flow rates for each pipeline segment to satisfy demand constraints and pressures for each of a plurality of network nodes over the period of time to satisfy pressure constraints. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used to control one or more control elements.

Control system in an industrial gas pipeline network to satisfy energy consumption constraints at production plants

Controlling flow of gas in a gas pipeline network, wherein flow within each pipeline segment is associated with a direction (positive or negative). Minimum and maximum signed flow rates are calculated for each pipeline segment constituting lower and upper bounds, respectively, for flow in each pipeline segment. A nonlinear pressure drop relationship is linearized within the lower and upper flow bounds to create a linear pressure drop model for each pipeline segment. A network flow solution is calculated, using the linear pressure drop model, and includes flow rates for each pipeline segment to satisfy demand constraints and pressures for each of a plurality of network nodes to satisfy pressure constraints. Lower and upper bounds on the pressure constraint comprise a minimum delivery pressure and a maximum operating pressure, respectively. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used by a controller to control one or more control elements.

Control system in a gas pipeline network to satisfy pressure constraints

A system and method for controlling delivery of gas, including a gas pipeline network having at least one gas production plant, at least one gas receipt facility of a customer, a plurality of pipeline segments, and a plurality of control elements, one or more controllers, and one or more processors. The hydraulic feasibility of providing an increased flow rate of the gas to the gas receipt facility of the customer is determined using a linearized pressure drop model. A latent demand of the customer for the gas is estimated using a latent demand model. Based on the hydraulic feasibility and the latent demand, a new gas flow request rate from the customer is received. A network flow solution is calculated based on the new gas flow request rate. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used by a controller to control one or more control elements.

Control system in a gas pipeline network to increase capacity factor

A method and system for determining changes in the catalytic activity of reforming catalyst where an outlet temperature of the catalytic reactor is measured and a temperature approach to equilibrium calculated based on the measured outlet temperature. The temperature approach to equilibrium is compared to an empirical model-based temperature approach to equilibrium calculated for the same operating conditions, the comparison showing changes in the catalytic activity of the reforming catalyst.

Monitoring the activity of reforming catalyst

Controlling flow of gas in a gas pipeline network, wherein flow of gas within each pipeline segment is associated with a direction (positive or negative). Minimum and maximum delivery rates to each gas receipt facility are determined. Lower and upper flow bounds of gas delivery rate are created by bounding minimum and maximum signed flow rates using minimum and maximum delivery rates, respectively, for each pipe segment. A pressure drop relationship for each pipeline segment within the lower and upper flow bounds is linearized to create a linear pressure drop model for each pipeline segment. A network flow solution is calculated, which includes flow rates for each pipeline segment and pressures for each network nodes to satisfy the lower and upper flow bounds on the gas delivery rate. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used by a controller to control one or more control elements.

Control system in a gas pipeline network to satisfy demand constraints

Controlling flow of gas in an gas pipeline network, wherein flow of gas within each of the pipeline segments is associated with a direction (positive or negative). Processors calculate minimum and maximum production rates (bounds) at the gas production plant to satisfy an energy consumption constraint over a period of time. The production rate bounds are used to calculate minimum and maximum signed flow rates (bounds) for each pipeline segment. A nonlinear pressure drop relationship is linearized to create a linear pressure drop model for each pipeline segment. A network flow solution is calculated, using the linear pressure drop model, comprising flow rates for each pipeline segment to satisfy demand constraints and pressures for each of a plurality of network nodes over the period of time to satisfy pressure constraints. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used to control one or more control elements.

A computer-implemented system and method for producing and distributing at least one product from at least one plant to at least one customer where discretized plant production data, filtered customer sourcing data, forecasted customer demand data, and forecasted plant electricity pricing data are input into a modified genetic algorithm and an electronic processor solves the modified genetic algorithm and outputs the solution to an interface. The system and method is flexible and can incorporate data as it becomes available to yield intermediate solutions for quick decision making.

Methods for improved production and distribution

A system and method is disclosed for acquiring temperature data from a plurality of features in a chamber including capturing a first image of an interior area of the chamber, capturing a second image of the interior area of the chamber, identifying a plurality of features within the data for the first image and the data for the second image, generating an interior area representation based on the first image data, the second image data, and the identification of each feature of the plurality of features in the interior area, and correlating the interior area representation to temperature information related to the interior area.

System and method for temperature data acquisition

A method of operating a furnace having process tubes and multiple burners where it is desired to conform the temperatures of the process tubes to selected target temperature criterion. The present method provides a systematic and quantitative approach to determine how to adjust burner flow rates to result in desired tube wall temperatures, for example to minimize the temperature deviation between tube wall temperatures at a predetermined elevation in the furnace.

Systems and methods are provided that allow a user to monitor, diagnose, and configure a process. A user interface may be presented that displays data received from process monitors, sensors, and multivariate models. The user interface may be interactive, allowing a user to select which composite and multivariate models are displayed. The user interface and multivariate model may be constructed and updated in real time. The user interface may present various data and interfaces, such as a representation of a composite variable in a multivariate model, a representation of the contribution of process variables to the composite variable, and a representation of a subset of the process variables. The user may select a point of the composite variable for analysis, and the interface may indicate the contribution and values of process variables at the selected point. The interface may be transmitted to a remote user.

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Emmaus, PA, United States of America

Ali Esmaili