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The FluxMax approach for simultaneous process synthesis and heat integration: Production of hydrogen cyanide
Author(s) -
Liesche Georg,
Schack Dominik,
Sundmacher Kai
Publication year - 2019
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.16554
Subject(s) - process integration , retrofitting , process (computing) , process engineering , production (economics) , resource (disambiguation) , hydrogen production , computer science , mathematical optimization , biochemical engineering , process optimization , engineering , chemistry , hydrogen , mathematics , chemical engineering , computer network , structural engineering , organic chemistry , economics , macroeconomics , operating system
Resource and energy efficiency are essential in process synthesis of chemical plants as they combine economic with ecological benefits. The two main targets of the process synthesis problem—mass and energy flux optimization—are typically split into two steps: single unit optimization and subsequent energy integration preventing the identification of the globally optimal solution. This article presents a single‐step procedure for resource‐efficient process synthesis through simultaneous heat and mass flux optimization called FluxMax approach (FMA), which is demonstrated for the production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The impact of simultaneous heat integration on the optimal process structure is demonstrated and two resource‐optimal processes for HCN production are identified consisting of a combination of different reactor and recycling strategies reducing total variable cost by 68%. For convex objective functions, the globally most resource‐efficient process is identified highlighting the potential of the FMA for site planning and retrofitting of existing plants.