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A method for flexibility analysis of continuous processing plants
Author(s) -
Chien D. C. H.,
Douglas P. L.,
Penlidis A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450690107
Subject(s) - flexibility (engineering) , computer science , refinery , mathematical optimization , heuristic , constraint (computer aided design) , engineering , mathematics , mechanical engineering , waste management , statistics
A methodology has been developed for the analysis of operational flexibility of a continuous processing plant. An application has been demonstrated for a multipurpose plant with uncertain operating conditions. A practical flexibility analysis procedure using a direct search optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. The method provides a heuristic screening technique that makes it possible to avoid the exhaustive enumeration of every constraint vertex, while the direct search optimization offers a simple and effective means to identify bottlenecks. A refinery multiperiod plant problem has been investigated in order to highlight the procedures which lead to the construction of flexibility indices for each operating mode.