System and method for alkylation of hydrocarbons

A system comprising:

• a control circuit comprising one or more processors and memory structured to store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control circuit to:
• receive, by one or more processors and from one or more sensors, measurements indicative of one or more operating parameters of an alkylation process;
• determine, by the one or more processors, a difference between the one or more operating parameters of the alkylation process and one or more target operating parameters of the alkylation process;
• determine, by the one or more processors, a factor associated with one or more of the one or more operating parameters, wherein the factor is based on the difference;
• and
• provide, by the one or more processors, an indication of the factor to an operator of the alkylation process.

A method of alkylating an olefin in the presence of an acid catalyst, the method comprising:

• receiving, by one or more processors and from one or more sensors, measurements indicative of two or more operating parameters of an alkylation system;
• determining, by the one or more processors, a difference between the two or more operating parameters of the alkylation system and corresponding target operating parameters of the alkylation system;
• determining, by the one or more processors, a factor associated with two or more of the one or more operating parameters, wherein the factor is based on the difference of the two or more factors and the corresponding target operating parameters;
• and
• changing a position of a valve, a flow rate of isobutane, a flow rate of catalyst, a flow rate of olefin, or an operating temperature associated with the alkylation system in response to the factor,
• wherein the one or more operating parameters of the alkylation system include at least two or more of:
• an acid purity;
• an isobutane recycle purity;
• a ratio of a feed rate of isobutane to a feed rate of olefin;
• a feed rate of isobutane to a catalyst regenerator;
• a ratio of a feed rate of acid catalyst to a feed rate of hydrocarbon;
• an amount of fresh acid inventory;
• a feed rate of sulfur;
• a settler acid level;
• an alkylation reaction temperature;
• an acid boot valve position;
• a boiling end point of an alkylate;
• a mass of residue in an alkylate;
• a ratio of a flow rate of alkylate to a feed rate of olefin;
• an alkylate color;
• or
• a debutanizer acid boot level.