Simultaneous simulation and optimization of multiple dividing wall columns

06 September 2021, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

In this work we present a new approach that we use to simulate and optimize multiple dividing wall columns at the same time. Instead of considering all model equations as constraints and all process variables as optimization variables in a large and highly nonlinear optimization problem we only incorporate a subset of the model equations as constraints and a subset of the process variables as optimization variables. The remaining process variables are calculated from this subset by a robust and fast calculation procedure. This calculation procedure also ensures that the remaining model equations are satisfied. A comparison with the commercial process simulator Aspen Plus shows that with the new approach multiple dividing wall columns can be optimized more stable and better solutions are found. Moreover the time needed to find an optimal design decreases significantly.

Keywords

Process simulation
distillation
optimization
dividing wall columns

Comments

Comments are not moderated before they are posted, but they can be removed by the site moderators if they are found to be in contravention of our Commenting Policy [opens in a new tab] - please read this policy before you post. Comments should be used for scholarly discussion of the content in question. You can find more information about how to use the commenting feature here [opens in a new tab] .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy [opens in a new tab] and Terms of Service [opens in a new tab] apply.