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Optimal synthesis of p ‐xylene separation processes based on crystallization technology
Author(s) -
Lima Ricardo M.,
Grossmann Ignacio E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.11666
Subject(s) - superstructure , crystallization , p xylene , decomposition , flow (mathematics) , process engineering , process (computing) , nonlinear programming , nonlinear system , materials science , computer science , algorithm , chemical engineering , chemistry , engineering , mathematics , structural engineering , physics , organic chemistry , toluene , geometry , quantum mechanics , operating system
This article addresses the synthesis and optimization of crystallization processes for p‐xylene recovery for systems with feed streams of high concentration, a case that arises in hybrid designs where the first step is commonly performed by adsorption. A novel superstructure and its corresponding mixed‐integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model are proposed. The distinct feature of this superstructure is the capability to generate optimum or near optimum flow sheets for a wide range of specifications of p‐xylene compositions in the feed stream of the process. To cope with the complexity of the MINLP model, a two‐level decomposition approach, consisting of the solution of an aggregated model and a detailed model, is proposed. The results obtained show good performance of the decomposition strategy, and the optimal flow sheets and p‐xylene recoveries are in agreement with the results reported in patents. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009