Method of column control

A method of column control, comprising:

• passing a feed stream and a make-up stream through a column;
• withdrawing an overhead fraction from the column;
• purging at least a portion of the overhead fraction;
• cooling at least a portion of the overhead fraction in a heat exchanger and passing it through a reflux drum;
• withdrawing a purge stream and a distillate stream from the reflux drum, wherein the distillate stream has a constant flow rate;
• recycling at least a portion of the distillate stream back to the column;
• and
• passing at least a portion of the distillate stream to processing equipment, wherein the feed stream comprises linear alpha olefins, solvent, spent catalyst, catalyst deactivation agent, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

A method of column control, comprising:

• passing a feed stream comprising C2-C20 linear alpha olefins, solvent, spent catalyst, and catalyst deactivation agent, and a make-up stream comprising C4 linear alpha olefins through a C4/C6 distillation column;
• withdrawing an overhead fraction comprising C4− linear alpha olefins from the column, wherein the overhead fraction is in communication with a split-range controller;
• purging at least a portion of the overhead fraction, wherein the purged portion of the overhead fraction comprises C4− linear alpha olefins;
• cooling at least a portion of the overhead fraction in a heat exchanger and then passing it through a reflux drum, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a coolant fluid;
• withdrawing a purge stream comprising C4− linear alpha olefins and a distillate stream from the reflux drum, wherein the distillate stream has a constant flow rate;
• recycling at least a portion of the distillate stream back to the column;
• intermittently using at least a portion of the distillate stream as a liquid condensate supply for processing equipment;
• and
• withdrawing a bottoms fraction comprising C6+ linear alpha olefins, solvent, spent catalyst and catalyst deactivation agent from the column.