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Focused Plant Optimization Strategy for Polyethylene Multi-grades and Multi-sites Production

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Abstract

A petrochemical industry produces multiple grades of products along with a significant amount of ‘off-spec’ grades which are bi-products resulting from a transition phase between production of any two grades. While the optimization of grades production in different reactors is important, it is equally important to minimize the production of off-spec grades to minimize loss and reduce safety risks imposed on the reactor in every transition. The production of off-spec grades depends on many factors, particularly the number of grades produced in the reactor and the nature and duration of the transitions. In this study, an adoption of a ‘focused plant’ approach is used that meets the demand of different grades by assigning limited or focused grades to selected reactors based on their capabilities and constraints. A mixed-integer linear programming model is presented to determine the optimum grades selection for focused reactors of a plant and the quantity to be produced in each reactor to maximize overall profit. The model is applied on a case study with six reactors and twelve grades over a period of 1 year.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Business Administration (COBA), Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, P.O. Box 1664, Al-Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia

    Mushabeb Z. Alqahtani & Arifusalam Shaikh

  2. Systems Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Malick M. Ndiaye

Authors
  1. Mushabeb Z. Alqahtani
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  2. Arifusalam Shaikh
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  3. Malick M. Ndiaye
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Correspondence to Arifusalam Shaikh.

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Alqahtani, M.Z., Shaikh, A. & Ndiaye, M.M. Focused Plant Optimization Strategy for Polyethylene Multi-grades and Multi-sites Production. Arab J Sci Eng 43, 3173–3185 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-017-2882-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-017-2882-7

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