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Abstract
In the traditional constrained formulation the separation objectives are posed as inequality constraints. The
optimisation variables are the number of stages on each section of the column, the reflux ratio and the product flow
rates. The main objective of this work is to reformulate the original constrained problem into an unconstrained
problem. The reflux ratio and product flow rate are calculated to satisfy the two active constraints at each stage of
the optimisation problem, adding two equations to the modelling system of the distillation column.
The design problem of a distillation column is formulated as an unconstrained optimisation problem where the
number of stages in each section of the column is treated as continuous optimisation variable. Therefore an
unconstrained non-linear programming problem is solved. The objective function used corresponds to the
minimisation of the total cost, thus leading to a convex problem. A numerical example corresponding to a real
column is included. The total cost versus the number of stages in each section of the column is graphically shown.
~ TOT
~ ~
variables z that can be adjusted to find the optimum
condition are the reflux flow rate and the product flow > 0 and TOT >0
oNj oR N B
rate and the variables d are the number of stages in the R,B " (3)
rectification and stripping sections of the column
(equivalent to the total number of stages and feed GC
TOT
oD
I N R
>0 GC
TOT
oB N
I R
<0
location). The pressure of the column can also be
considered as an optimisation variable and should be In problem (P2), the" derivatives of the" total cost with
included ifheat integration is contemplated. respect to the number of stages in each section follows:
The separation tasks can be represented by a state 2. Figure 2 shows the behaviour near the solution. The
variable :Ik ~for example a product composition) or a function is convex and presents a global minimum.
function of the state variable f(:Ik) if a recovery is The cost increases rapidly when the minimum number
required. The outer loop must solve a non-linear of stages in both sections is reached, due' "to high
implicit equation system ofthe form: operating cost, as can be seen in Figure I. Thus the
f(x k(z))-SP=O (5) optimisation code is not likely to explore that region.
Around the optimal solution, the cost is not very
where the set-point SP is the desired value off(XI.;).
The outer loop consists of a set of non-linear equations sensitive to the number of stages. Therefore more than
whose dimension matches the number of active one candidate with similar costs can be chosen at this
constraints. When the system is solved, the values of stage. The final decision can be made on some other
the operating variables that satisfy the specifications grounds, for example the flexibility of the design to
are found. This non-linear system is generally non- uncertain parameters, considering that a larger number
explicit and can be solved using a Newton-Raphson or of stages than the number calculated on the basis of
a quasi Newton method. The analytical derivatives obtaining the economic optimum provides more
required by the Newton-Raphson approach can be flexibility (Hoch and Eliceche, 1998). A trade-off
obtained using the chain rule and some elements of the between cost and flexibility will lead to the final
Jacobian generated in the solution of the MESH decision.
equations. Full derivations are not included due to
space limitation and can be found in Hoch (1993). Conclusions
Being the MESH equations A general procedure has been presented to reformulate
b(x,z)=O (6) the design of a conventional distillation column as an
unconstrained problem. The objective function of the
where x is the vector of the state variables, the required new unconstrained formulation is convex. Therefore a
derivatives OX/OZ are obtained from: global solution can be guaranteed, searching for the
(ab~Z))J:){ab~Z))1 =0 (7)
number of stages in the rectification and stripping
sections that minimise the total cost of a conventional
column.
Thermodynamic properties were calculated using the
Soave modification of the equation of state of Redlich
and Kwong. References
I. Biegler L.T. and Cuthrell 1., Improved infeasible
path optimization for sequential modular simulators. II:
Optimisation
For the optimisation problem (P2), derivatives of the The optimization algorithm, Compo and Chem. Eng. 9. 3.
1985.
objective function with respect to the number of stages
2. Eliceche A.M. and Sargent R.W.H., Synthesis and
Nr and Ns are approximated by finite differences,
Design of Distillation Systems, Ind. and Chem. Eng.
because the derivatives of the reflux and product flow
Symp. Ser. 61, pp I, 1981.
rates with respect to the number of stages are not
3. Eliceche A.M., Optimal Design of Distillation
analytically available.
Systems, PhD Thesis, University of London, 1982.
Lower bounds can be evaluated using shortcut methods
4. Hoch P.M and Eliceche A.M., Utilizocion de un
for the minimum number of stages in the rectification
bloque de control para lograr la especificacion de una
and stripping sections.
columna de destilacion; Argentinean Symposium of
Optimisation results are shown in Table 2. The
Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
continuous solution for the number of stages is very
ADICIQA 1989.
close to the integer values. Efficiencies must be
5. Hoch, P.M., Diseiio Optima y Flexibilidad de
considered to convert the theoretical stages to real
Columnas de Destilacion, PhD Thesis, Universidad
column plates in each section.
Nacional del Sur, 1993.
The CPU times presented correspond to a Digital
6. Hoch P. M. and Eliceche A. M., Optimal design of
MicroVAX 3100-80. The programs were recently
non-convemional distillation columns, Computer
adapted to run on a Pentium 233 Mhz with some
Oriented Process Engineering, Vol 10, pp. 369-375,
improvement on the speed ofthe calculations.
Elsevier, 1991. .
A grid of the column cost versus the number of stages
of the rectification and stripping zone is constructed.
7. Swartz and Stewart, A collocation approach to
distillation column design, AIChE 1., (32), II, (1986).:
The total cost, the objective function formulated in the
8. Viswanathan J. and Grossmann I.E., Compo and
unconstrained problem (P2), is shown in figures I and
Chern. Eng., Vol 14, pp 769-782, 1990.
5478 Computers and Chemical Engineering Supplement (1999) S475-S47/l
'l'l
5.9
&, ' .85
5.&
&
.,- -
5.75 Cost [$/h]
7.'
5.llS
Coat[S/Il]
5.6
,.,
Nr
, .
Figure 2: Detail ofthe min imum ofthe cost
function (around the optimum)
Figure I: Total cost function vs. N. and N, for the
example shown
Ns~ 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Nr'/'
5 8.29 7.14 6.63 6.39 6.28 6.25 6.26 6.30 6.35 6.42
6 7.13 6.45 6.12 5.96 5.89 5.88 5.90 5.94 5.99 6.05
7 6.64 6.13 5.88 5.75 5.70 5.70 5.72 5.76 5.81 5.87
8 6.44 6.00 5.78 5.67 5.63 5.62 5.65 5.69 5.73 5.79
9 6.39 5.97 5.76 5.66 5.62 5.61 5.64 5.67 5.72 5.78
10 6.40 5.99 5.78 5.68 5.64 5.64 5.66 5.70 5.75 5.80
11 6.45 6.04 5.83 5.73 5.69 5.69 5.71 5.74 5.79 5.84
12 6.52 6.10 5.89 5.79 5.75 5.75 5.77 5.80 5.85 5.90
13 6.60 6.17 5.96 5.86 5.81 5.81 5.83 5.86 5.91 5.96
14 6.68 6.25 6.03 5.93 5.88 5.88 5.89 5.93 5.97 6.02
Table 3: SImulations usmg the outer convergence loop