Transitions between different polymer grades seem to be a frequent operating profile for polymerization processes under the current market requirements for product with diverse specifications. A broader view of the plant operating profile without focusing only on a single changeover between two polymer grades raises the problem of the optimal sequence of transitions between a certain number of grades. An integrated approach to the optimal production scheduling in parallel with the optimal transition profiles is carried out using Mixed Integer Dynamic Optimization (MIDO) techniques. A remarkable improvement on process economics is observed in terms of the off-spec production and the overall transition time.
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