Retrofit design of multipurpose batch plants with multiple production routes

Abstract

This work analyzes possible alterations of configuration of an existing multipurpose batch plant for which new production targets and selling profits have been specified. New equipment can be added to the batch plant in the form of a retrofit in order to become a more economical and optimal design. The retrofit problem is posed as a mixed-integer formulation (MILP). The application of the proposed model is illustrated using three examples where can be verified that the method is efficient and of easy application, when compared of the others strategies to solve the retrofit problem