Abstract: Intelligent techniques，such as artificial neural network，fuzzy inference logic and expert system，are used in several applications. These techniques are based on human intelligence and way of thinking. They do not need much system information. New ideas and methods are presented for resolving the key problems of complex control system. The intelligent techniques were used in ethylene plant. The intelligent system structure and application were demonstrated in thermal cracker，and the application results in the process were shown. The successful application illustrates that the intelligent techniques are very attractive in process control.

摘要： 以神经网络、模糊逻辑、专家系统等为代表的一类智能方法在许多领域得到了应用，由于借鉴了人类思维方式、方法，对研究对象先验知识要求少，使用灵活，为解决复杂控制系统的瓶颈提供了崭新的思路和方法。本文针对乙烯生产过程的关键操作单元——裂解炉，阐述了智能控制技术在乙烯装置中的设计思路和实施效果。工业现场的成功应用说明了智能控制技术在过程控制领域具有广阔的应用前景。