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Deterministic global optimization of binary hybrid distillation/melt-crystallization processes based on relaxed MINLP formulations

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Abstract

This paper deals with the deterministic global optimization of hybrid distillation/melt-crystallization processes for closely boiling mixtures. An algorithm is presented that exploits the problem specific structure of continuous, counter-current distillation to reduce the domain of the corresponding mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP). We apply a bound tightening technique based on the explicit computation of extreme column solution profiles, which enclose all possible solutions of the distillation column model. A relaxed MINLP model formulation is then used to exclude several non-optimal and infeasible column configurations. The numerical performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on a test series of stand-alone distillation column processes and hybrid separation processes.

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  1. This hint was recommended to us by the BARON team.

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Acknowledgments

This work is part of the Collaborative Research Centre “Integrated Chemical Processes in Liquid Multiphase Systems” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) is gratefully acknowledged through TRR 63. Especially, the first and the fourth authors thank the DFG for its financial support. Main parts of the submitted version has been finished while the fourth author was at the Institute for Operations Research at ETH Zurich and financially supported by DFG (TRR 63).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany

    Achim Kienle & Christian Kunde

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik komplexer technischer Systeme, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany

    Achim Kienle

  3. Technische Universität Dortmund, Vogelpothsweg 87, 44227, Dortmund, Germany

    Dennis Michaels

  4. Institut für Operations Research, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Martin Ballerstein & Robert Weismantel

Authors
  1. Martin Ballerstein
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  2. Achim Kienle
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  3. Christian Kunde
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  4. Dennis Michaels
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  5. Robert Weismantel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis Michaels.

Additional information

Martin Ballerstein was formally at Institut für Operations Research, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.

Appendix: A List of possible process configurations

Appendix: A List of possible process configurations

See Fig. 5.

Fig. 5
figure 5

List of possible process configurations. a PC01, b PC02, c PC03, d PC04, e PC05, f PC06, g PC07, h PC08, i PC09, j PC10

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Ballerstein, M., Kienle, A., Kunde, C. et al. Deterministic global optimization of binary hybrid distillation/melt-crystallization processes based on relaxed MINLP formulations. Optim Eng 16, 409–440 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11081-014-9267-5

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