A new algorithm for optimization of distillation columns

Distillation process is widely used in the chemical industries. The objective in distillation column design is to determine the most economical column specification capable of fulfilling all separation requirements intended for the unit. Works on operational optimization of distillation processes (continuous or discontinuous) have demonstrated the interdependent nature of design and operation issues and thus, the need to consider these simultaneously. The aim of the batch distillation design problem is to maximize the objective function or profitability subject to the column model equations and all the separation constraints. The objective of this work is to propose a novel optimization method. Discretization of variables and link together by a new matrix-based method are fundamentals of new optimization method. Adaptivity of the newmethod with distillation process is its privilege for using in distillation columns. It is shown that the performance of the new method demonstrates superiority over classical genetic algorithms (GAs) used in optimization problems and can be applied as a new optimization method in distillation columns.

Keywords:

New algorithm , Optimization methods , Distillation Columns