A Non-linear Programming Formulation for Optimal Design and Operation of a Multitubular Packed-Bed Reactor Using a One Stage Solution Strategy (simultaneous solution): Case Study of o-xylene Oxidation to Phthalic Anhydride

摘要

A one-dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model is used for simulation and subsequent optimization of a MPBR. The reactive system chosen for the present study is Finlayson extended o-xylene oxidation to phthalic anhydride production in the presence of undesired side reactions. The case study is actually taken from Froment and Bischoff and in the present article the optimal design and operation of the reactor is searched upon. All programmed simulations and optimizations were achieved by means of Wolfram Mathematica 6.0～R. As is usual for the present case, sensitivity analyses are done for o-xylene inlet concentration (molar fraction) and reactor inlet temperature. The problem for optimization with differential equation constraints is also discussed and several objective functions, technical and economical ones, are maximized.^