Gao, WeihuaHernández, ReinaldoEngell, Sebastian2020-01-032020-01-032016-11-26http://hdl.handle.net/2003/3848110.17877/DE290R-20400Modifier adaptation with quadratic approximation (in short MAWQA) can adapt the operating condition of a process to its economic optimum by combining the use of a theoretical process model and of the collected data during process operation. The efficiency of the MAWQA algorithm can be attributed to a well-designed mechanism which ensures the improvement of the economic performance by taking necessary explorative moves. This paper gives a detailed study of the mechanism of performing explorative moves during modifier adaptation with quadratic approximation. The necessity of the explorative moves is theoretically analyzed. Simulation results for the optimization of a hydroformylation process are used to illustrate the efficiency of the MAWQA algorithm over the finite difference based modifier adaptation algorithm.enProcesses;4(4)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Real-time optimizationModifier adaptationQuadratic approximation660article (journal)