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Title: A general procedure for the synthesis of process flowsheets

Abstract

This report is a summary of research progress in areas. The first is evaluating control systems for chemical plants at the conceptual design stage, including the effects of trace components, the desirable design modifications to improve dynamic control, developing short-cut dynamic models for complete plants, and control structures for distillation systems. Continuing work on a generalized approach to the synthesis of process flowsheets is also summarized. We discuss a general structure for the structure of processes involving vapor/liquid/liquid/solid separations along with a related short-cut method to describe liquid/liquid phase splits. The generalization of design methods to batch processing is also discussed. 5 refs.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Sponsoring Org.:
DOE/ER
OSTI Identifier:
6384024
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13676-4
ON: DE91001778
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-87ER13676
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; CHEMICAL PLANTS; CONTROL SYSTEMS; FLOWSHEETS; DESIGN; SEPARATION PROCESSES; DISTILLATION; PROGRESS REPORT; DIAGRAMS; DOCUMENT TYPES; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; 320303* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes

Citation Formats

Douglas, J.M., and Malone, M.F.. A general procedure for the synthesis of process flowsheets. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.2172/6384024.
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Douglas, J.M., & Malone, M.F.. A general procedure for the synthesis of process flowsheets. United States. doi:10.2172/6384024.
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Douglas, J.M., and Malone, M.F.. Mon . "A general procedure for the synthesis of process flowsheets". United States. doi:10.2172/6384024. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6384024.
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@article{osti_6384024,
title = {A general procedure for the synthesis of process flowsheets},
author = {Douglas, J.M. and Malone, M.F.},
abstractNote = {This report is a summary of research progress in areas. The first is evaluating control systems for chemical plants at the conceptual design stage, including the effects of trace components, the desirable design modifications to improve dynamic control, developing short-cut dynamic models for complete plants, and control structures for distillation systems. Continuing work on a generalized approach to the synthesis of process flowsheets is also summarized. We discuss a general structure for the structure of processes involving vapor/liquid/liquid/solid separations along with a related short-cut method to describe liquid/liquid phase splits. The generalization of design methods to batch processing is also discussed. 5 refs.},
doi = {10.2172/6384024},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (0.42 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/6384024
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  • ;
    This research is divided into two parts, examining continuous or batch processes. The current work on continuous processes is focused on developing a more general procedure for the systematic synthesis of process flowsheets that will identify the most important process alternatives (including waste minimization alternatives), the dominant design variables, and the minimum energy consumption for each alternative for continuous, vapor-liquid-liquid-solid processes for the production of nonpolymeric materials. This work is an extension of the hierarchical synthesis procedure previously developed for vapor-liquid processes. A new superstructure for continuous process flowsheets, along with an extended set of rules for the classification ofmore » components, with special attention to waste minimization, and solvent selection is described. The work on batch processes is focused on developing new procedures for the design and scheduling of multiproduct batch plants. The approach is based on simulated annealing and the solution of the optimal sequencing problem as well as initial results on the design problem are described in this report. 4 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.« less

  • ;
    The research was divided into two parts: examining (1) continuous and (2) batch processes. The work on continuous processes was focused on the development of a more general procedure for the systematic synthesis of process flowsheets that identifies the most important process alternatives (including waste minimization alternatives), the dominant design variables, and the minimum energy consumption for each alternative for continuous, vapor-liquid-liquid-solid processes for the production of nonpolymeric materials. The work was an extension of the hierarchical synthesis procedure previously developed for vapor-liquid processes. A new superstructure for continuous process flowsheets, along with an extended set of rules for themore » classification of components, with special attention to waste minimization, and solvent selection was developed. The work on batch processes was focused on the development of new procedures for the design and scheduling of multiproduct batch plants. The approach was based on simulated annealing and the solution of the optimal sequencing problem as well as the results on the design problem are described in this report.« less

  • ; ;
    No abstract prepared.

  • ; ; ; ...
    As a means of significantly reducing the amount of limestone required by the fluidized-bed combustion of coal, a limestone regeneration process has been developed which allows the sorbent to be recycled back to the combustor for reuse. To further the development of regeneration, experiments were performed to (1) evaluate the effects of repeated utilization on the sorbent reactivity for sulfation and regeneration and (2) characterize the minimum fluidizing-gas velocity required for the regeneration process to prevent agglomeration and defluidization of the bed. This report presents the results of those investigations plus (1) the development of process flowsheets and (2) anmore » estimation of process costs and the economics of regeneration. The results of the experimental regeneration process studies confirm the potentially large reductions in the amount of sorbent required by FBC's which can be achieved by regeneration, possibly as high as 80%. The economic projections indicate that at current limestone prices, regeneration is not clearly justified on an economic basis; i.e., the cost of the regeneration process slightly exceeds the anticipated savings in limestone raw material cost which results from the regeneration process. However, the cost of limestone disposal has not been thoroughly addressed. Hence, if disposal costs due to environmental considerations, particularly the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, become significant, the economic attractiveness of regeneration would be greatly enhanced.« less

  • ; ; ; ...
    This work is an extension of the standard lost work availability analysis developed by Van Ness. The objective is to determine new measures of energy utilization efficiency for a complex energy using system--a chemical process. The algorithms presented for tracing mass, energy, and thermal availability flow through a process matrix are based on a traceback technique involving powers of the system's 'Adjacency Matrix.' To facilitate the thermodynamic analysis of each product path through the process, a 'nodal utilization accounting system' is defined together with various new process parameters. The decomposition techniques of Harary were employed together with the algorithms developedmore » in this work to provide product path tracing. The computer program implementation of the algorithms and the subsequent thermodynamic analysis were tested on an Atmospheric Distillation Unit of a petroleum refinery. As was expected, application of the algorithm revealed a high degree of recycle (internal cascade) of 62% which confirmed the extensive connectivity of the process. The thermodynamic analysis of process structure presented herein not only provides new insight into the degree of heat integration (or energy recycle) of chemical processes, but is also viewed as a new technique for use in evolutionary process synthesis and design. The bulk of this report is comprised of Appendices A-R. (Portions of this document are not fully legible)« less