Optimum design of distillation systems

Imperial Users onl

Optimal design of membrane processes for wastewater treatment and metal recovery

Different continuous operating modes of a nondispersive solvent extraction (NDSX) process with membrane modules of hollow fibre for wastewater treatment and metal recovery are evaluated. Cocurrent and countercurrent flow of aqueous and organic phases in the membrane modules with alternative product extraction locations for the removal and recovery of hexavalent chromium from wastewater are studied. The design of NDSX process in a countercurrent continuous operation is addressed for the first time in this work and the improvement achieved is reported. The membrane area required in the countercurrent operation is reduced significantly compared with the cocurrent operation, requiring also less investment in pumps and pumping cost leading to the minimum total cost. Thus a significant improvement in the design of this new and cleaner technology is presented.Fil: Corvalán, Sergio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, Inmaculada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Optimization of the operating conditions of azeotropic distillation columns with pervaporation membranes

The main objective of this work is the optimization of the operating conditions of azeotropic distillation columns in hybrid distillation/pervaporation systems. In the configuration analyzed, a liquid side stream extracted from the azeotropic distillation column with the distributing non-key component is treated in a pervaporation membrane while the retentate is recycled to the column. The pervaporation membrane separates the pure distributing non-key component from the mixture, thus helping to improve the purity in the top and/or bottom products of the distillation column. The case study shows the hybrid process of a distillation column combined with pervaporation membranes, compared to the classical two-column process for Methyl tert-Butyl Ether production. In both cases, the operating conditions of the distillation columns such as reflux ratio, product and side draw flowrates are selected optimally. The numerical results show a significant reduction in operating cost obtained by using a pervaporation membrane instead of the second column in the original process.Fil: Hoch, Patricia Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Daviou, Maria Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Erratum: Corrigendum to ″unconstrained optimisation for the design of distillation columns″ (Comp. and Chem. Eng. (1999) vol. 23 (S475-S478) PII S009813549900040X)

Corrigendum to unconstrained optimization for the design of distillation columnsFil: Hoch, Patricia Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Biobjective optimization using environmental and economic functions in utility plants

Environmental and economic objective functions are used simultaneously to select the operating conditions of a steam and power plant. Different methodologies to solve bi objective optimization problems were implemented successfully. The life cycle potential environmental impact and the operating cost of the utility plant are minimized simultaneously. A methodology is presented to estimate the potential environmental impacts considering the most important life cycle stages associated with imported electricity and natural gas in the utility plant. Mixed Integer Non Linear bi objective problems are formulated and different strategies are implemented and successfully solved in GAMS. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fil: Martinez, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Recycling a hydrogen rich residual stream to the power and steam plant

The benefits of using a residual hydrogen rich stream as a clean combustion fuel in order to reduce Carbon dioxide emissions and cost is quantified. A residual stream containing 86% of hydrogen, coming from the top of the demethanizer column of the cryogenic separation sector of an ethylene plant, is recycled to be mixed with natural gas and burned in the boilers of the utility plant to generate high pressure steam and power. The main advantage is due to the fact that the hydrogen rich residual gas has a higher heating value and less CO2 combustion emissions than the natural gas. The residual gas flowrate to be recycled is selected optimally together with other continuous and binary operating variables. A Mixed Integer Non Linear Programming problem is formulated in GAMS to select the operating conditions to minimize life cycle CO2 emissions. © 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fil: Martinez, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Area de Seguridad Nuclear y Ambiente. Instituto de Energía y Desarrollo Sustentable; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Operation of the argentinean interconnected electricity network

A methodology to select optimally the electricity generation plants of the Argentinian interconnected network is developed. The electricity generation grid has different fossil fuel, hydroelectric and nuclear power stations. The power plants configuration connected to die grid and their operating loads are selected minimizing life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and operating cost simultaneously. A life cycle approach to estimate greenhouse gas emissions of thermoelectric, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants is followed. Binary operating variables represent discrete decisions to select which power plant is connected to the grid and the type of fossil fuel used. Continuous operating variables are introduced to select the optimal load for each power plant. A mixed integer linear programming problem is formulated and solved in GAMS. Significant reductions in green house emissions and operating cost are achieved simultaneously in the operation of die electricity network. Thus, a useful tool to support a decision-making process in the operation of a key energy sector is presented. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fil: Martinez, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Minimization of life cycle CO2 emissions in steam and power plants

A methodology is presented to minimize life cycle CO2 emissions through the selection of the operating conditions of a steam and power generation plant. The battery limits of the utility plant are extended to include CO2 emissions of: (1) extraction and transport of natural gas burned in its boilers, (2) generation of imported electricity by nuclear, hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants and (3) exploration, extraction and transport of natural gas, oil, coal and uranium consumed by thermoelectric and nuclear plants. The operating conditions of the utility plant are selected optimally to minimize the life cycle CO2 emissions. There are continuous operating conditions such as temperature and pressure of the high, medium and low pressure steam headers and binary operating conditions to represent discrete decisions to select optional pumps drivers between electrical motors and steam turbines or whether some equipment is on or off. A Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming problem is formulated and solved in GAMS. Significant reductions in life cycle CO2 emissions, natural gas consumption and operating cost are achieved simultaneously in the steam and power generation system of an ethylene plant. This is an important tool to support a decision making process to reduce CO2 emissions in a key industrial sector.Fil: Martinez, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Multi objective optimization using life cycle environmental impact and cost in the operation of utility plants

Environmental and economic objective functions are used simultaneously to select the operating conditions of a steam and power plant. Different methodologies to solve multi objective optimization problems were implemented successfully. The life cycle potential environmental impact and the operating cost of the power plant are minimized simultaneously. A methodology is presented to estimate the potential environmental impacts during the most important life cycle stages associated with imported fuel and electricity in the utility plant. Mixed Integer Non Linear multi objectives problems are formulated and different strategies are implemented and successfully solved in GAMS. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fil: Martinez, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Optimal operation of selective membrane separation processes for wastewater treatment

The objective of this work is to identify and select optimally the main operating conditions of selective membrane separation processes for wastewater treatment. The advantage of this technology is that it reduces the amount of metals disposed into the environment, by removing them from wastewater and concentrating them simultaneously in the stripping stream for re-use in the plant that generates the effluent. The operating conditions are evaluated solving an optimisation problem, where the set of algebraic and differential equations that represent the component mass balances are formulated as equality constraints, together with the separation objectives that are posed as inequality end point constraints. The optimisation leads to significant improvements in terms of the flow rate of the effluent treated, showing the potential of the methodology presented. Insight on the dynamic behaviour of the selective membrane separation processes is gained through the sensitivity analysis.Fil: Eliceche, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Ana I.. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Ortiz, Inmaculada. Universidad de Cantabria; Españ