1 research outputs found
Computing optimal operating policies for the food industry
11 páginas, 1 apéndice, 4 figuras, 5 tablasFood processing plants are usually operated in batch or semi-continuous mode. Dynamic optimization techniques can be used to
compute optimal operating policies in order to ensure maximum profits and product quality while guaranteeing food safety. However,
the nonlinear and highly constrained nature of food processing models can make their dynamic optimization a daunting task.
Here, we analyze the performance of several state of the art methods considering two selected case studies: a semi-continuous fermentor
and a thermal sterilization unit. We also propose novel sequential re-optimization strategies in order to avoid convergence
problems and to improve computational efficiency.We thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology
(MCyT project AGL2001-2610-C02-02) and
Xunta de Galicia (grant PGIDIT02PXIC40211PN) for
financial support. Author Ma S. G. Garcı´a gratefully
acknowledges financial support (FPI fellowship) from
the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology.Peer reviewe