Multi-objective optimisation using surrogate models for the design of VPSA systems

Abstract

Vacuum/pressure swing adsorption is an attractive and often energy efficient separation process for some applications. However, there is often a trade-off between the different objectives: purity, recovery and power consumption. Identifying those trade-offs is possible through use of multi-objective optimisation methods but this is computationally challenging due to the size of the search space and the need for high fidelity simulations due to the inherently dynamic nature of the process. This paper presents the use of surrogate modelling to address the computational requirements of high fidelity simulations needed to evaluate alternative designs. We present SbNSGA-II ALM, surrogate based NSGA-II, a robust and fast multi-objective optimisation method based on kriging surrogate models and NSGA-II with Active Learning MacKay (ALM) design criteria. The method is evaluated by application to an industrially relevant case study: a two column six step system for CO 2 /N 2 separation. A 5 times reduction in computational effort is observed.

Exploring new sources of efficiency in process-driven materials screening for post-combustion carbon capture

“…49,52 The complete set of the equations along with the boundary conditions and other technical details of the model are provided elsewhere. 53 We note that our process simulator (CySim) has been previously shown to reproduce both experimental 49,[54][55][56] and published modelling data 23 accurately.…”

“…To discover the complex relationships between various process parameters, we will require further understanding of the fundamental processes during the steady-state PSA/VSA cycle operation, which could be aided by the novel machine-learning techniques. 28,53,78 Ultimately, revealing the hidden relationships between the process parameters can be exploited for reducing the dimensionality of the optimization space, and to develop more efficient optimization algorithms. This will be pursued in our future studies.…”

Visualization of multi-objective decisions for the optimal design of a pressure swing adsorption system

“…The LDF model is a linear approximation of the homogeneous diffusion equation for the mass transfer rate. Moreover, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm is used in this study with the data provided in [8].…”

“…This may prevent future populations from becoming too homogeneous. These settings are chosen based on our experience with NSGA-II in the study of surrogate modeling [8] for pressure swing adsorption design problems.…”

Meta‐Model‐Based Calibration and Sensitivity Studies of Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Jet Pumps

“…Meta-modeling has been applied to several practical cases in the process industry [8,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. More recently, we presented the calibration of a single turbulent model parameter in the CFD simulation of annular jet pumps [10].…”