This study demonstrates the efficacy
of a short-cut method such
as the Global Minimization Algorithm (GMA),
,
that
uses assumptions of ideal mixtures, constant molar overflow (CMO)
and pinched columns, in pruning the search-space of distillation column
configurations for zeotropic multicomponent separation, to provide
a small subset of attractive configurations with low minimum heat
duties. The short-cut method, due to its simplifying assumptions,
is computationally efficient, yet reliable in identifying the small
subset of useful configurations for further detailed process evaluation.
This two-tier approach allows expedient search of the configuration
space containing hundreds to thousands of candidate configurations
for a given application.
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