Mathematical Modeling Approaches for Optimization of Chemical Processes

CORSANO, GABRIELA; MONTAGNA, JORGE; IRIBARREN, OSCAR; AGUIRRE, PÍO

Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Lugar: New York (USA); Año: 2009 p. 92

978-1-60456-942-1

Mathematical modelling is a powerful tool to solve different problems which arise in chemical engineering optimization. Problems as designing a plant, determining the number of units for a specific task, assigning raw materials to different production processes and deciding the production planning or production targets are some of the issues that can be solved through mathematical modelling. In other words, the mathematical formulations are used to make decisions at different levels, from the synthesis and design of the process up to its operation and scheduling. In this work, different possible mathematical modelling in chemical engineering are developed. Generic formulations are presented and applied to a particular study case of the Sugar Cane industry: the simultaneous production of sugar and derivative products. Through the examples, several models will be posed corresponding to different considered conditions or decisions. Moreover, different scenarios will be considered and trade-offs between decisions will be represented and analyzed. In general, the aforementioned problems in chemical engineering can be faced either sequentially or simultaneously. The sequential approach deals with each decision separately, one after the other. For example, the plant configuration is first determined, then the unit sizes, after that the processing variables e.g. processing times and flowrates, and lastly the production planning. Sometimes depending on the scenario, when the plant configuration or unit sizes are known, only the operating, scheduling or planning problem are solved separately. On the other hand, modelling all or some decisions simultaneously implies to consider in an overall model all the necessary variables and constraints in order to solve the plant synthesis, design, operation and planning, all together.    Some definitions, concepts and known methodologies of process system engineering are first presented in order to provide a background for the present work. Then, the mathematical models proposed in this work for different scenarios are formulated. Also real-world applications of synthesis, design, operation, scheduling, and planning problems are posed and solved. The optimal solutions are analyzed in each case and the advantages and disadvantages of each formulation are discussed. Finally, desirable future work in this area is briefly addressed.