Data Reconciliation in Open Reaction Systems using the Concept of Extents

Kinetic models of chemical reaction systems are typically represented in terms of state variables, such as concentrations, temperature and partial pressures [1]. These state variables in turn depend on the underlying reactions, transfer phenomena, and transport due to the inlet and outlet flows. Kinetic models are derived from first principles – material and energy balances – and are expressed as a set of differential and algebraic equations (DAE), with the differential equations describing the evolution over time and the algebraic equations describing relationships that have to be satisfied at each time instant [2]. The identification of kinetic models along with the estimation of their parameters is carried out using measurements obtained from experiments performed under well-chosen and often ideal experimental conditions [3]. Kinetic models can then be adapted to non-ideal process operations using real-time measurements for the purpose of monitoring, control and optimization [4-5]. Measurements are inherently corrupted with noise. The quality of measurements made during the identification experiment affects kinetic identification, while the quality of measurements made during process operation affects its efficiency. Data reconciliation techniques rely on balance equations (here algebraic constraints) to improve the accuracy of these measurements, with more relationships leading to better reconciliation [6]. Hence, data reconciliation can be formulated as a constrained optimization problem in terms of measured and reconciled variables. However, since these variables are typically involved in more than one rate process, it is difficult to add additional shape constraints involving for example monotonicity. Several alternative representations of reaction systems in terms of variants and invariants have been proposed in the literature. Asbjørnsen and co-workers [7], for example, introduced a two-way decomposition into reaction variants and reaction invariants. Unfortunately, the transformed variables are also flow variant. Srinivasan et al. [8] introduced a nonlinear decomposition into reaction variants, flow variants, and reaction and flow invariants. Note that all these representations use abstract variables that do not carry any physical meaning. Recently, a representation of reaction systems using a linear transformation has been proposed. The transformed states, called vessel extents, have a clear physical meaning, and, in addition, each vessel extent is associated with a single rate process [9]. Srinivasan et al. [10] have recently shown that the transformation to vessel extents allows a general formulation of process constraints under all common operating conditions, namely, batch, semi-batch and continuous mode. In addition, the extents are monotonically increasing in the absence of an outlet stream (batch and semi-batch mode). The same authors have also shown that the addition of monotonicity constraints to the