System for controlling an argon flow rate at the outlet of a distillation column

A system for controlling an argon flow rate of a fluid at an outlet of an assembly of at least one distillation column in order to achieve a target dioxygen content (SP), the system comprising:

• a. a sensor configured to measure a dioxygen content (PV) in a fluid comprising argon at the outlet of the assembly of at least one distillation column;
• b. a regulator configured to determine a required argon flow rate variation (Δregul) depending on the difference (c) between the dioxygen content measured by the sensor and a target dioxygen content;
• c. a controller configured to generate a control signal relating to a target argon flow rate (Qargon), said target argon flow rate being determined depending on the required argon flow rate variation determined by the regulator and on variations in the dioxygen content measured by the sensor;
• and
• d. a valve controlled by said controller and configured to modify the argon flow rate of the fluid at the outlet of the assembly of at least one distillation column in order to obtain the target argon flow rate,
• wherein the assembly of at least one distillation column is supplied with an air fluid, the target argon flow rate determined by the controller being determined additionally depending on a predictive value (Qpred) of the argon flow rate depending on the air flow rate (Qair) at the inlet of the assembly of at least one distillation column and on a yield (ρ) of said assembly,
• wherein controller is further configured to weight the argon flow rate predictive value (Qpred) by a corrective factor (K) relating to disturbances of the assembly of at least one distillation column, said corrective factor being determined depending on the difference between the dioxygen content measured by the sensor and the target dioxygen content.