Friedman, Y. Z.
Y. Zak Friedman is a Principal Consultant with Petrocontrol. He has practiced APC for most of his career, specializing in using first-principles models for inferential process control and has developed inferential models to fit many hydrocarbon processes. Dr. Friedman’s experience spans more than 50 yr, working with Exxon Research and Engineering, KBC Advanced Technology and Petrocontrol. He holds a PhD degree from Purdue University.
HP Control: Has the advanced process control industry completely collapsed?
I stopped writing   editorials for a while because people were uncomfortable reading them. But I have finally decided against burying my head in sand. We ? control engineers ? should discu..
HP Control: APC, modeling and optimization insights
I have participated in the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) computer conference without fail for over a decade, and have seen it go through the ebb and flow of oil..
First-principles inference model improves deisobutanizer column control
When the input data are clean, model fidelity is better than that of onstream analyzers
First-principles distillation inference models for product quality prediction
Modeling approach involves a short-cut simulation of a column section
HP Control: Closed-loop optimization update – a step closer to fulfilling the dream
Closed-loop economic optimization of refineries and chemical units has been a dream in our industry for over four decades. There have been at least three waves of attack on this problem, but optimizat..
More about closed-loop optimization
Editor's note: In the March '98 "HP In Control" editorial1, I named several controversial issues and requested readers' input. Dr. Friedman is responding to per..
HP Control: Advanced process control: it takes effort to make it work
Conventional wisdom has it that investments in advanced process control pay out in weeks. Pour in the money, and things will begin to happen. Years of work as an advanced control consultant have taugh..
- China's March jet fuel exports jump 77.4% from a year earlier 4/18
- Nigeria strikes deal with Shell to supply $3.8-B methanol project 4/18
- Singapore fuel oil stockpiles rebound to 8-week high on higher imports 4/18
- Clariant launches new CATOFIN 312 propane dehydrogenation catalyst 4/18
- Solvay inaugurates new blowing agent production unit in Rosignano, Italy 4/18
- Meridian Energy Group’s Davis Refinery Project in North Dakota (U.S.) will be the world’s first net-zero carbon refinery 4/17