Simultaneous environmental and economic process synthesis of isobutane alkylation

Abstract

This multidisciplinary study concerns the optimal design of processes with a view to both maximizing profit and minimizing environmental impacts. This can be achieved by a combination of traditional chemical process design methods, measurements of environmental impacts and advanced mathematical optimization techniques. More to the point, this paper presents a hybrid simulation-multiobjective optimization approach that at once optimizes the production cost and minimizes the associated environmental impacts of isobutane alkylation. This approach has also made it possible to obtain the flowsheet configurations and process variables that are needed to manufacture isooctane in a way that satisfies the above-stated double aim. The problem is formulated as a Generalized Disjunctive Programming problem and solved using state-of-the-art logic-based algorithms.It is shown, starting from existing alternatives for the process, that it is possible to systematically generate a superstructure that includes alternatives not previously considered. The optimal solution, in the form a Pareto curve, includes different structural alternatives from which the most suitable design can be selected. To evaluate the M

Multi-objective optimization of rainfed and irrigated agricultural areas considering production and environmental criteria: a case study of wheat production in Spain

“…In particular, MOO (Chankong and Haimes, 1983;Ehrgott, 2000) can treat environmental concerns as decision-making objectives rather than as constraints imposed on the system (García et al, 2014;Grossmann and Guill en-Gos albez, 2010;Guillen-Gosalbez et al, 2007). MOO generates a set of alternatives (called Pareto optimal solutions) which are non-dominated (none of the objectives in a Pareto optimal point can be improved in value by any other feasible solution without worsening at least another objective value).…”

Novel Concept of Cogeneration-Integrated Heat Pump-Assisted Fractionation of Alkylation Reactor Effluent for Increased Power Production and Overall CO2 Emissions Decrease

“…The alkylate production process underwent significant changes in the last few decades [5]. Traditionally used homogeneous catalysis is gradually being replaced by solid catalysts (acidic resins) [6] or ionic liquids [7].…”

“…The separation part of this technology has received much attention as well. An optimization study by García [5] assessed the economic and environmental impacts of various reactor refrigeration alternatives and product fractionation layouts. The complex plant modeling approach was presented by Li [13], introducing design solutions leading either to the lowest global warming potential or to the highest economic potential.…”

“…Traditional separation layout includes i-butane separation in the first column, followed by splitting of n-butane and alkylate in the second one [13]. Advanced distillation techniques can be applied to lower the energy consumption, e.g., thermal coupling [16], heat pump incorporation [16], or divided wall column [5]. Thermal coupling of distillation columns is traditionally proposed as an energy efficient system used in combination with pressure change [17].…”

MILP method for objective reduction in multi-objective optimization

“…Indeed, a search in Scopus for literature 3 dealing with this technique surpasses the figure of 50000 publications. It has been employed in a large number of fields, for example in the area of process design (García et al, 2014), safety (Rubén Ruiz-Femenia et al, 2017) and other fields (Chang et al, 2015;R. Ruiz-Femenia et al, 2013;Salcedo et al, 2012;Sendín et al, 2009) .…”