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Robust Optimal Design of an Glycerol Etherification Process
Author(s) -
Vlad E.,
Bildea C. S.,
Bozga G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201200274
Subject(s) - robustness (evolution) , glycerol , optimal design , process dynamics , process design , process engineering , constructive , process (computing) , chemistry , biochemical engineering , engineering , computer science , organic chemistry , process integration , biochemistry , machine learning , gene , operating system
Glycerol ethers are valuable fuel additives produced by reaction of glycerol with isobutene. The processes presented in the literature use high‐purity isobutene and are designed assuming accurate knowledge of reaction kinetics and physical properties. The optimal design of a plant processing 2.25 kmol h –1 glycerol, using isobutene of 90 % purity, is addressed considering the uncertainty of the design data. Plants with small reactors have the lowest total annual cost, but the recycle flow rates greatly increase when uncertain variables affect the process, constraining the operation feasibility. The optimal design, fulfilling the constraints despite uncertainty, is found by constructive nonlinear dynamics. The robustness of the optimal design is proved by dynamic simulation.