Towards global optimization of combined distillation-crystallization processes for the separation of closely boiling mixtures

摘要

This paper deals with global optimization of hybrid distillation/melt crystallization processes. For this purpose, improved algorithms are presented taking the problem specific structure into account. We use recent results to derive improved convex relaxations for terms occurring in the material balance equations and propose a constraint propagation strategy that enables us to exclude several process configurations very fast. Computations are presented demonstrating the usefulness of our methods. It is shown that the speed of global optimization can be improved by orders of magnitude.