Outer approximation algorithm with physical domain reduction for computer-aided molecular and separation process design
File(s)Gopinath_et_al-2016-AIChE_Journal.pdf (546.57 KB) Revised_manuscript_new.pdf (2.14 MB)
Published version
Accepted version
Author(s)
Gopinath, S
Jackson, G
Galindo, A
Adjiman, CS
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Integrated approaches to the design of separation systems based on computer-aided molecular and process design (CAMPD) can yield an optimal solvent structure and process conditions. The underlying design problem, however, is a challenging mixed integer nonlinear problem, prone to convergence failure as a result of the strong and nonlinear interactions between solvent and process. To facilitate the solution of this problem, a modified outer-approximation (OA) algorithm is proposed. Tests that remove infeasible regions from both the process and molecular domains are embedded within the OA framework. Four tests are developed to remove subdomains where constraints on phase behavior that are implicit in process models or explicit process (design) constraints are violated. The algorithm is applied to three case studies relating to the separation of methane and carbon dioxide at high pressure. The process model is highly nonlinear, and includes mass and energy balances as well as phase equilibrium relations and physical property models based on a group-contribution version of the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT-γ Mie) and on the GC+ group contribution method for some pure component properties. A fully automated implementation of the proposed approach is found to converge successfully to a local solution in 30 problem instances. The results highlight the extent to which optimal solvent and process conditions are interrelated and dependent on process specifications and constraints. The robustness of the CAMPD algorithm makes it possible to adopt higher-fidelity nonlinear models in molecular and process design.
Date Issued
2016-09
Date Acceptance
2016-06-28
Citation
AICHE Journal, 2016, 62 (9), pp.3484-3504
ISSN
0001-1541
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
3484
End Page
3504
Journal / Book Title
AICHE Journal
Volume
62
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors AIChE Journal published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aic.15411
Grant Number
EP/J003840/1
EP/J014958/1
EP/E016340/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Engineering, Chemical
Engineering
mixed-integer optimization
molecular design
absorption
carbon dioxide capture
SAFT equation of state
OPTIMAL SOLVENT DESIGN
EQUATION-OF-STATE
INTEGRATED SOLVENT
CARBON-DIOXIDE
HIGH-PRESSURE
SAFT
FRAMEWORK
OPTIMIZATION
IMPACT
METHODOLOGY
Chemical Engineering
0904 Chemical Engineering
0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-07-08