February 7, 2017: APC Performance announced that its patent application for Rate-Predictive Control (RPC), inherently adaptive control algorithm, and for Model-less Multivariable Control (XMC), model-less multivariable control solution, has been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Rate-Predictive Control (RPC) is a model-less and inherently adaptive (or “naturally self-tuning”) process control algorithm. It deploys as a re-usable distributed control system (DCS) software function block, or it can be directly built into commercial control system products as one of the user-selectable control algorithm options in these devices. RPC provides an alternative to industry standard “PID” control in many applications. XMC, the model-less multivariable control technology by APC Performance embeds RPC as its internal control method.
All process industries, such as refining, chemicals and power generation, rely heavily on process control technology for safe, stable and reliable operation. As a result of RPC and XMC, all process industry sectors stand to realize gains in overall real-time process control and optimization performance. End users in trial applications have described their experience as follows:
“XMC rate predictive control is amazingly agile and stable without the complexity of models. Deployment is easy, and operator acceptance has been positive. Also the maintenance requirements are minimal compared to PID or MPC.”
- Gregory W. Hampton, P. E., APC Engineer, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Lake Charles, Louisiana
“Much of the traditional large matrix multivariable or model-based control technology has been difficult to use and support, resulting in poor operator acceptance and eventual degradation of the plant models, which impacts process performance. It appears that APC Performance has designed XMC to target the optimization gap between traditional advanced regulatory control and the large matrix model-based controllers to make the solution simpler to implement, support, and maintain and much easier for the operator to use, which should result in better acceptance.” - Peter Reynolds, Industry Analyst, ARC Advisory Group
