4976 Bear Mountain Drive

Evergreen, CO 80439

office: 303-670-8392

cell: 303-670-9092             

e-mail: bob@procontrol.net             

 
 
logo_100wide ProControl, Inc.                   

  Process Control Education and Technology                  

  Robert V. Bartman, Ph.D., President                              

 


                                ProControl Profile:  Robert V. Bartman, President

 

Educational Background

B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Attained # 1 ranking in both U.W. College of Engineering classes (across all Engineering disciplines), and High School classes.

 

Advanced Process Control Career Summary

Exxon Research & Engineering Co.:  17 years conceiving and implementing true cutting-edge advanced computer controls.  Nine years in key field implementation leadership roles onsite at four major international plants.  Was Exxon's main Advanced Control and Online Process Optimization consultant to all plants, on all units.   Authored highly practical and heavily used Exxon "bibles" on Model-Based Control and Optimal Multi-Blend Quality and Inventory Control, and strategies for Online Plant-wide Optimization – all based on much field implementation experience.   Created and taught popular Advanced Control Applications Training Course attended by over 350 already-experienced Exxon computer control engineers, worldwide, in both Chemicals and Refining.  Was chief company designer of tools for Advanced Applications Engineer training, online and offline process identification and loop tuning, robust Model-Based Control, and LP-Based Multivariable Control.  Created and successfully field-implemented Exxon's first fully-closed-loop, plant-wide optimization project, at Rotterdam.

ProControl, Inc.:  founded the company 8/86.  Forty-five major corporate clients now use ProControl's education and software to improve performance and returns from their Control Engineers, Process Engineers, Instrument Technicians, and Process Operators. 

 

Public Domain Articles and Talks   (Note:  publications were rare in Exxon!)

"Online, Model-Based Optimization of Crude Unit and Blending Operations in a Hydroskimming Refinery";   a talk given at the '84 International Industrial Controls Conference, Philadelphia.

"Dual Composition Control in a C3/C4 Splitter", Chemical Engineering Progress, Sept. 1981.

Lecturer at Prof. W. Luyben's "Distillation Control" Course, Lehigh University.

Achievements and Awards

Exxon Corp. "Outstanding Technical Achievement" award for creating the Dynamic Reconciliation Model-Based Control technology now widely used in every Exxon petrochemical plant.  (This was a highly prestigious, seldom-given, and rewarding accolade.)

U.S. Patent 3,781,533: "Constraint Control System for Optimizing Performance of Process Units".

National Council of Teachers of English Award for skills with the English language.

National Merit Scholar (now termed a Finalist).

 

 

Some Exxon Career "Specifics":

 

COMPUTER CONTROL SOFTWARE --  Simplified dynamic process analysis with a powerful PC-based dynamic modeling package.  Distributed this package to all Refining and Chemicals sites, at Exxon affiliates’ request.  This package significantly increased both the rate and quality of advanced applications' implementation, and garnered much affiliate praise.  (This tool is a rather primitive ancestor of ProControl's much more comprehensive and user-friendly DISCOVER software.)  Developed revolutionary Model-Based, LP-Based control system covering all types of continuous control problems.   This system literally reduced advanced application implementation times from months to days.  Dr. Bartman was charged with designing a new control system solely using this approach (in contrast with use of PID's and classical decouplers), based on excellent field success and much affiliate demand, when he chose to leave Exxon.  (An enhanced DR Model-Based algorithm is now included in DISCOVER, and taught via case studies in ProControl's Revelations Course.)

Played significant role in expanding the functionality of both Honeywell and IBM process control computer software, during residency at both HW and IBM plants.  Responsible for many enhancements and bug-fixes before allowing shipment of vendor control systems to Venezuela and Antwerp.

 

CONTROL TECHNOLOGY -- Recognized for "significantly advancing the state-of-the-art in Primary Fractionator control" while on first field assignment (two years in Benicia).  Designed and implemented Exxon's first multivariable controls optimizing both crude unit energy consumption and product yields (in 1970).  Created and implemented Exxon's first online adaptive control and online Evolutionary Optimization programs; the latter maximized both Light and Heavy Crude feedrates to the refinery while modifying assumed plant behavior automatically to conform with reality.  A key feedforward application showed spectacular success in fixing an "unsolvable" process problem; Exxon Engineering used its strip charts as a major sales tool to convince other plants to convert from analogs and pneumatics to digital control.  Assumed a major applications leadership role at this site, and was asked to remain permanently (but declined).

In one year at the Amuay Refinery in Venezuela, designed and implemented Exxon Engineering's first optimal online LP blend control system (1973).  Had full advanced applications team responsibility for this project, which included many feedforward, constraint and multivariable applications throughout the refinery.  Based on continuing success, was pulled off to lead all applications activities on a higher-profile project at the Antwerp, Belgium, Plant (1974 - 1977).

Designed and implemented company's largest multivariable application, optimizing the simultaneous blending of ten grades of Distillate and Fuel products (Antwerp).  This single application drove the setpoints for 55 flow controllers – a record within Exxon, and perhaps anywhere, at the time.  This highly sophisticated application was fully implemented within four weeks of the commissioning of the first basic flow loop in the plant.  It was so immediately successful that the Refinery Scheduling and Coordination staff deemed it a necessity;  it was not allowed to be turned off thereafter.  (The importance of this application had been properly recognized in earlier applications' goal-setting and manpower allocation meetings led by Dr. Bartman.)

As part of this large-scale blending application, implemented the first known use anywhere of a “precursor” LP run retrieving the Reduced Cost information critical to online intermediate component pricing, and to Operator Guidance messaging.

While resident at Antwerp (1975 - 1977), created the Dynamic Reconciliation Model-Based Control technology now employed over a wide spectrum of process units (Cat Crackers, Hydrocrackers, Hydrogen Plants, Desulfurizers, Reformers, Towers, Lubes units, Aromatics units, Steam Crackers, …).  Excellent service factors are a common denominator.  Antwerp's most advanced applications (e.g., online LP optimization of the lowest-cost feed slate to a Hydrogen Plant;  many multivariable tower and reactor problems) showed service factors consistently above 98% overall.  One message, stressed heavily in ProControl's courses:  expediency is almost always an enemy in applications design and implementation.  Better to be selective with a cost/benefit-justified, well-staged implementation plan, and to then do each application right the first time.  It's no exaggeration to say that Antwerp became the crown jewel among Exxon's success stories in Advanced Control.

The Multivariable LP-Based technology Dr. Bartman developed at Antwerp was later judged "best of breed" in stiff competition with the more complex DMC approach.  Exxon later had a portion of this technology put into DMC.

 

ONLINE OPTIMIZATION -- Pioneered Exxon’s first large-scale online plantwide optimization project (Rotterdam) optimizing key refining operations, from crude feed through product blending.   Designed all relevant strategies, including both online and offline utilization of updated process models, and the plantwide dynamic tracking of all stream qualities required for final product blending.  Very successfully led all field implementation (1980 - 1983).

Designed both online and offline optimization strategies for all types of product blending, including practical strategies for intermediate component inventory control.  Included full conformity with Refinery Planning and Scheduling in blend applications design -- a key point often missed.  Excellent online outcomes triggered revisions in models and strategies both inside and outside the plant – all the way to Exxon's Corporate Planning level.

 

EXXON CONTROL EDUCATION -- Created "Advanced Control Engineer Training" Course providing easy solutions to many difficult multivariable control problems.  This two-week course was taught several times per year to senior Advanced Control Engineers from all international plants, both refining and chemical.  High student enthusiasm and follow-through were evidenced by course reviews, and by broad field implementation of course techniques.  This Advanced Control Course was voted by Exxon in-plant personnel survey:  “The Best Product Put Out by Exxon Engineering for its Affiliates” two years in a row.  This survey spanned all Exxon refineries and chemicals plants.

After resigning to form ProControl, Dr. Bartman was hired back to teach two further Exxon Advanced Control Courses.  He was also hired by a major Exxon refinery (in direct competition with Exxon Engineering) to revamp its advanced online blend optimization controls.