Soft Sensors & APC Performance

[ivani1]

How do soft Sensors enhance APC performance on offshore platforms where online analyzers are limited?

[sys1]

Soft sensors (virtual analyzers) are mathematical models that infer difficult-to-measure process variables from readily available measurements such as pressure, temperature, flow, valve position, power consumption, and composition estimates. On offshore platforms, where installing and maintaining online analyzers can be expensive, space-constrained, and unreliable due to harsh environments, soft sensors can significantly improve Advanced Process Control performance.

[tuan]

See on offshore platforms, soft sensors act as high-frequency virtual analyzers. They compensate for limited or unreliable online instrumentation by providing continuous estimates of critical quality and performance variables.
This improves MPC/APC observability, reduces effective dead time and maintains control during analyzer outages.