Integration of thermodynamic insights and MINLP optimization for the synthesis, design and analysis of process flowsheets

This paper presents an integrated approach to the solution of process synthesis, design and analysis problems. Integration is achieved by combining two different process synthesis techniques, one based on thermodynamic insights and the other based on structural optimisation, together with a simulation engine and a properties prediction package. Process flowsheets with or without reaction blocks are considered in this paper. Results from three illustrative case studies, highlighting different features of the integrated approach, are presented. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.