Abstract: A process for controlling the composition of an xBOB so that the xBOB will yield an oxygenate-containing gasoline which precisely meets desired specifications when mixed with the desired amount of oxygenate. The process involves blending a plurality of blendstocks to produce an xBOB, withdrawing a sample of the xBOB, obtaining spectroscopic measurements for the sample, applying mathematical models that were based on correlation of xBOB spectra to associated oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, to predict laboratory analysis results for oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, and using the analysis results to control and optimize the blending process.

Abstract: A process for controlling the composition of an xBOB so that the xBOB will yield an oxygenate-containing gasoline which precisely meets desired specifications when mixed with the desired amount of oxygenate. The process involves blending a plurality of blendstocks to produce an xBOB, withdrawing a sample of the xBOB, obtaining spectroscopic measurements for the sample, applying mathematical models that were based on correlation of xBOB spectra to associated oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, to predict laboratory analysis results for oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, and using the analysis results to control and optimize the blending process.

Abstract: A process for controlling the composition of an xBOB so that the xBOB will yield an oxygenate-containing gasoline which precisely meets desired specifications when mixed with the desired amount of oxygenate. The process involves blending a plurality of blendstocks to produce an xBOB, withdrawing a sample of the xBOB, obtaining spectroscopic measurements for the sample, applying mathematical models that were based on correlation of xBOB spectra to associated oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, to predict laboratory analysis results for oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, and using the analysis results to control and optimize the blending process.

Abstract: A process for controlling the composition of an xBOB so that the xBOB will yield an oxygenate-containing gasoline which precisely meets desired specifications when mixed with the desired amount of oxygenate. The process involves blending a plurality of blendstocks to produce an xBOB, withdrawing a sample of the xBOB, obtaining spectroscopic measurements for the sample, applying mathematical models that were based on correlation of xBOB spectra to associated oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, to predict laboratory analysis results for oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, and using the analysis results to control and optimize the blending process.

Abstract: A process for controlling the composition of an xBOB so that the xBOB will yield an oxygenate-containing gasoline which precisely meets desired specifications when mixed with the desired amount of oxygenate. The process involves blending a plurality of blendstocks to produce an xBOB, withdrawing a sample of the xBOB, obtaining spectroscopic measurements for the sample, applying mathematical models that were based on correlation of xBOB spectra to associated oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, to predict laboratory analysis results for oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, and using the analysis results to control and optimize the blending process.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system that optimizes the recovery of argon includes an air intake, a high-pressure distillation column, a low-pressure distillation column, a crude argon distillation column, and a controller that automatically controls the composition of the raw argon stream to decrease the concentration of oxygen in the stream while preventing the concentration of nitrogen in the crude argon stream from exceeding a selected value. In addition, the controller also controls the composition of the crude argon stream until an oxygen concentration of the crude argon stream reaches a selected value. The controller may include a multivariable predictive controller.

Abstract: An air separation unit including an air intake, a high pressure cryogenic distillation column receiving air from the air intake and producing an oxygen rich liquid reflux, and a low-pressure cryogenic distillation column. An adaptive controller controls the flow rate of the oxygen-rich liquid from the first distillation column into the second distillation column, wherein during plant upsets, the adaptive controller maintains the level of oxygen-rich liquid in the first distillation column at a substantially constant level by adjusting a flow rate of the oxygen rich liquid into the second distillation column, and wherein the argon content of the argon-rich output stream from the second distillation column remains substantially constant.

Abstract: An air separation unit including an air intake, a high pressure cryogenic distillation column receiving air from the air intake and producing an oxygen rich liquid reflux, and a low-pressure cryogenic distillation column. An adaptive controller controls the flow rate of the oxygen-rich liquid from the first distillation column into the second distillation column, wherein during plant upsets, the adaptive controller maintains the level of oxygen-rich liquid in the first distillation column at a substantially constant level by adjusting a flow rate of the oxygen rich liquid into the second distillation column, and wherein the argon content of the argon-rich output stream from the second distillation column remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A method for automatically setting a target production level for at least one air separation unit in a network of air separation units. Each air separation unit has a plurality of field elements and at least one regulatory controller associated with one of the field elements, and has an energy usage level corresponding to a level of production. The method includes receiving a production level requirement for the network of air separation units and generating a production target level for at least one of the air separation units which minimizes and/or optimizes the sum of the ASU energy usage levels. The ASUs then can automatically ramp the plant production to the appropriate production target levels via the use of advanced process control (multivariable process controllers and/or advanced feedforward controllers), advanced regulatory control, and regulatory control means.