Abstract: Removal of water in a vinyl chloride monomer purification system is achieved through (1) providing a distillation column for separation of a liquid admixture of vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and water into (a) an essentially pure vinyl chloride product stream and (b) a hydrogen chloride distillate stream; and (2) placing a drying system in fluid communication with the distillation column midsection at a connection point where the water is at sufficient concentration to provide a useful mass transfer flux of water from a withdrawn midsection stream into a drying agent.

Abstract: A high temperature heat transfer fluid is disclosed which comprises a mixture of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro(1-phenylethyl)naphthalene and an alkyl biphenyl to provide high temperature heat transfer fluids exhibiting favorable thermal stability.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating business and manufacturing systems provides a computer integrated manufacturing environment. Work orders are defined in the business transaction processing system and rules contained in a plant model database generate setpoints based on the work orders. The setpoints include detailed information required by the process control system to manufacture the product specified by the work order. The setpoints are transmitted to the process control system for manufacture of the required materials.

Abstract: Removal of water in a vinyl chloride monomer purification system is achieved through (1) providing a distillation column for separation of a liquid admixture of vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and water into (a) an essentially pure vinyl chloride product stream and (b) a hydrogen chloride distillate stream; and (2) placing a drying system in fluid communication with the distillation column midsection at a connection point where the water is at sufficient concentration to provide a useful mass transfer flux of water from a withdrawn midsection stream into a drying agent.

Abstract: A high temperature heat transfer fluid is disclosed which comprises a mixture of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro(1-phenylethyl)naphthalene and dibenzyl toluene to provide high temperature heat transfer fluids exhibiting favorable thermal stability.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a business transaction processing system, a process control system, and a laboratory system provides a computer integrated manufacturing environment. The manufacturing execution system receives work orders from the business transaction processing system and obtains enrichment data to enhance the work orders. The manufacturing execution system uses the enrichment data and rules contained in a plant model database to generate setpoints based on the received work orders. A subset of the work order data is provided to the laboratory system to direct sample testing. The setpoints include detailed information required by the process control system to manufacture the product specified by the work order. The setpoints are transmitted to the process control system for manufacture of the required materials.

Abstract: A process control interface system having a network of distributed triply redundant input/output field computer units. The system includes a plurality of self-contained remotely located triply redundant field computer units connected to decision making redundant process control computers through a bi-directional communication network having at least two concurrently active communication channels. Each of the field computer units include a set of at least redundant field computers for arbitrating both input and output signals. The input arbitration method enables a plurality of selectable default input conditions, such as select HIGH and select LOW, in the event that a majority agreement cannot be reached among valid input signals. The output arbitration method includes a plurality of selectable default output conditions, such as fail SAFE and fail LAST. Each of the default input and output conditions may be rapidly adjusted through software selection.

Abstract: A model predictive controller for a process control system which includes a real-time executive sequencer and an interactive modeler. The interactive modeler includes both a process model and an independent disturbance model. The process model represents the dynamic behavior of the physical process, while the disturbance model represents current and future deviations from the process model. The interactive modeler estimates current process states from the process model and input data received from the executive sequencer. The executive sequencer then projects a set of future process parameter values, which are sought to be controlled, over a predetermined control horizon. The interactive modeler then solves a set of equations as to how the physical process will react to control changes in order to determine an optimized set of control changes. As a result, the process control system will be able to accurately track a predetermined set-point profile in the most effective and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adaptive process control and profit depiction system which is responsive to both process measurement input signals, economic inputs, and physical environment inputs. The process control system features an interactive optimization modeling system for determining manipulated process variables (also known as setpoints). These manipulated process variables are used to position mechanisms which control attributes of a manufacturing system, such as a valve controlling the temperature of a coolant or a valve controlling the flow rate in a steam line.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved catalytic process for the alkylation of benzene or substituted benzene with alkyl halides for the continuous production of diarylalkanes or substituted derivatives thereof using ethylaluminum dichloride or methylaluminum dichloride as an organoaluminum dichloride catalyst. A process and apparatus are provided for reacting either benzene (or a substituted benzene compound) together with either an alkyl halide or an aromatic halide.

Abstract: A process control interface system having a network of distributed triply redundant input/output field computer units. The system includes a plurality of self-contained remotely located triply redundant field computer units connected to decision making redundant process control computers through a bi-directional communication network having at least two concurrently active communication channels. Each of the field computer units include a set of at least redundant field computers for arbitrating both input and output signals. The input arbitration method enables a plurality of selectable default input conditions, such as select HIGH and select LOW, in the event that a majority agreement cannot be reached among valid input signals. The output arbitration method includes a plurality of selectable default output conditions, such as fail SAFE and fail LAST. Each of the default input and output conditions may be rapidly adjusted through software selection.

Abstract: The present invention provides (a) a reflux solvent for condensation polymerization which is an admixture blend of a diether described by the formula R.sub.1 --O--(CH.sub.2 --CHR.sub.2 --O).sub.n --R.sub.1 having a weight percentage between about 15 percent to about 60 percent (where R.sub.1 is independently selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.6, R.sub.2 =CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, and n=1-3), and a second fluid which is an aromatic petroleum distillate solvent characterized as having an essential preponderance of aromatic distillates and having a boiling temperature between about 136.degree. C. to about 232.degree. C., where the admixture has an autoignition temperature greater than about 300.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an integrated plant environment which includes a business computing environment, such as an IBM environment, to run business programs that manage business aspects of the plant, a second, different computing environment, such as a DEC environment, configured to run manufacturing programs that control production of products, a gateway configured to allow communication between the business programs and the manufacturing programs, and an advanced program-to-program server which enables communication between the two different computing environments. The present invention also includes a method for interfacing programs in a first computing environment with programs in a second computing environment.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an adaptive exponential filter, especially for noise reduction. The input of the filter is supplied with a series of time-discrete input signals containing both data and noise. An estimate of the standard deviation of the filter input signal has been determined prior to the execution of the adaptive exponential filter method. The method including: measuring the deviation between a current filter input signal to the filter and the prior sample period's output signal from the filter; determining the proportion of the deviation to the estimate of the standard deviation; and adjusting the discrete time constant of the filter in response to the proportion to provide a filter output signal at the output of the filter.

Abstract: The method for detecting in a controlled apparatus and process the freezing or failure of a sensing process and assembly comprising a sensor generating a sensor output signal and related components converting the sensor output signal into a process signal derived from the sensor output signal, with the sensor being subjected to continuous transient variations due to process noise in the controlled apparatus and process, comprises the steps of: determining in real-time processing mode an estimate of the standard deviation of the process signal, comparing the estimate of the standard deviation of the process signal with at least one predetermined reference value, and producing an unacceptability signal if the comparison results in the determination of unacceptable deviation between the compared values. Further, an apparatus for detecting in a controlled apparatus and process the freezing or failure of a sensing process and assembly is described.

Abstract: A model predictive controller for a process control system which includes a real-time executive sequencer and an interactive modeler. The interactive modeler includes both a process model and an independent disturbance model. The process model represents the dynamic behavior of the physical process, while the disturbance model represents current and future deviations from the process model. The interactive modeler estimates current process states from the process model and input data received from the executive sequencer. The executive sequencer then projects a set of future process parameter values, which are sought to be controlled, over a predetermined control horizon. The interactive modeler then solves a set of equations as to how the physical process will react to control changes in order to determine an optimized set of control changes. As a result, the process control system will be able to accurately track a predetermined set-point profile in the most effective and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adaptor for mounting a pressure sensor for a high temperature system comprising a sensor carrier means with an axis of elongation, said carrier means being provided at one axial end thereof with mounting means for sealingly mounting said carrier means in a hole of the wall, with an end face of said carrier means within said borescope hole being provided with an opening for entrance of pressure fluid from the interior of the gas tubine wall into said carrier means, said carrier means further being provided at the other axial end thereof with a recess for sealingly receiving the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly and continuously sampling AC voltage and current signals in a power system. The sampled signals are then analyzed in a sine board computer to derive a number of fundamental electrical variables. These variables include frequency, RMS volts, RMS amps and a phase angular relationship between the voltage and currents in the system. The computer also performs calibration and compensation functions. From these fundamental variable, other useful parameters can be calculated such as watts, watt-hours, VARS, and power factor.

Abstract: A process and a computer implemented system for controlling an axial compressor through measurement of pressure fluctuations of the turbulent fluid layer in the region of the compressor housing in at least one stage of the compressor by means of at least one pressure sensing device sensitive to differential pressure fluctuations affecting the blades at the characteristic frequency of the stage. The process and computer implemented system use a characteristic peak which emerges under load in a smoothed frequency signal derived from a transform of the pressure measurement to achieve optimal efficiency while, at the same time, avoiding destructive surge and stall conditions in the compressor.

Abstract: A method for oxychlorinating ethylene to ethylene dichloride utilizing a two reactor oxychlorination system in which the oxygen and hydrogen chloride feeds are split between the reactors such that the volume ratio of HCl fed to the first reactor to the HCl fed to the second reactor, and the volume ratio of O.sub.2 fed to the first reactor to the O.sub.2 fed to the second reactor are both in the range of about 50:50 to about 99:1.