The optimal retrofit of multiproduct batch plants

J.M. MONTAGNA; A. VECCHIETTI; O.A. IRIBARREN

Guaruja, San Pablo (Brasil)

Workshop; 2nd Pan American Workshop on Process Systems Engineering (CEPAC); 2001

CEPAC

This paper  presents new alternatives in the retrofit model of multiproduct batch plants. Besides the duplication of the batch units implemented in previous works, the model considers the inclusion of intermediate storage tanks. These tanks can replace existing units or they can be added to the batch plant.The replaced tanks can be sold. The allocation of intermediate storage tanks is not considered in previous retrofit works, even when  this alternative is not new in the design of multiproduct batch plants. More efficient and real world solutions can be obtained with this option, although it requires working with a more complex model. Several examples are solved. Besides examples already solved in previous works, new problems are considered to show the benefits of adding storage. The model is also applied to plants with a larger number of stages than usually treated in the literature. Finally the model is generalized to solve a multiperiod problem and a plant considering process performance models.