Thermodynamic uncertainties in batch processing and optimal control

Batch distillation is an important separation process for small-scale production especially in pharmaceutical, specialty chemical and biochemical industries. Although batch distillation units require lower capital cost than continuous units, the unsteady state nature of the process, results in higher operating costs. Optimal control in batch distillation is a mode of operation which allows us to optimize the column operating policy by selecting a trajectory for reflux ratio. Due to the uncertainties in thermodynamic models the reflux ratio profile obtained is oftensuboptimal.RecentlyanewmethodwasproposedbyRico-Ramirezetal.[Comput.Chem.Eng.27(2003)1867]toincludetime-dependent uncertainties in current formulations of batch distillation optimal control for ideal systems. In this paper, a general approach is proposed to handle both dynamic and static uncertainties in thermodynamics for more complex non-ideal systems. The static uncertainties result from the inaccuracies associated with pr...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2004
• Where: CCE
• Authors: Saadet Ulas, Urmila M. Diwekar
• Keywords: Batch Distillation, CCE 2004, CCE 2007, Static Uncertainties, Unsteady State Nature