Optimize product blending using Excel spreadsheets and LINGO software-Part 1

摘要

Linear programming(LP) is an optimization modelling technique in which a linear function is maximized or minimized when subjected to various constraints.This technique has been useful for guiding quantitative decisions in business planning in industrial engineering,refineries and chemical plants.Petroleum refining involving gasoline blending bears a different cost of manufacturing; the proper allocation for each component into its optimal disposition is of major economic importance.To address this problem,most refiners employ LP that permits the rapid selection of an optimal solution from multiple feasible alternative solutions,as each component is characterized by its gasoline blending in petroleum refining.Examples provided in this article are the solver from Microsoft Excel and LINGO software.Product blending plays a key role in preparing refinery products for the market to satisfy product specifications and environmental regulations.The objective of product blending is to assign all available blend components to satisfy product demand and specification to minimize cost and maximize overall profit.Almost all refinery products are blended for the optimal use of all the intermediate product streams for the most efficient and profitable conversion of petroleum to marketable products.For example,typical motor gasolines may consist of straight-run naphtha from distillation,crackate[from fluidized catalytic cracking(FCC)],reformate,alkylate,isomerate and polymer-ate,in proportions to make the desired grades of gasoline and the specifications.