Real-Time Optimization in the Chemical Processing Industry†

The advancements of computation capabilities and efficient flowsheet simulators have led simulation based real-time optimization (RTO) of continuous processes to become a prominent topic in the last years. This contribution discusses prerequisites to help guarantee the economic viability of an RTO project as well as the deliberations that should be performed prior to its initiation. Additionally, considerations regarding collaborations with various technical fields are highlighted and approaches to alleviate some challenges associated with the implementation of RTO are discussed.