The purpose of this work is to propose a new approach for process synthesis. It is formulated and tested for the design of a chemical plant producing benzene. In general, this new approach uses thermodynamic concepts in particular exergy analysis based on the method of load redistribution.;Initially, we use a superstructure found in the literature including many structures composed of unitary processes for which a number of different pieces of equipment may be chosen. The functional parameters for each of them are determined using heuristic methods and partial simulations. Next three principles which allow the initial super-structure to be transformed into a new one are developed. This new structure called "concurrent processes" superstructure allows to study simultaneously all concurrent structures. The principles used for this transformation are: (1) adjustment of raw material flows in order to mix exit flows of concurrent equivalent unitary processes; (2) mixing the flows at the entry of the unitary processes which have constant efficiency and exergy consumption; (3) correct the flow separation at the exits for all processes involved in principle (2).;Using the software ASPEN PLUS, the "concurrent processes" superstructure can be simulated. Various flow variables, i.e, chemical, thermomechanical and thermodynamic can then be accessed and analyzed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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