Global Optimization of Energy and Production in Process Industries: a Genetic Algorithm Application

The process industries exhibit an increasing need for efficient management of all the factors that can reduce their operating costs, leading to the necessity for a global multi-objective optimization methodology that will enable the generation of optimum strategies, fulfilling the required restrictions. In this paper a genetic algorithm is developed and applied for the optimal assignment of all the production sections in a particular mill in the kraft pulp and paper industry, in order to optimize energy the costs and production rate changes. This system is intended to implement all programmed or forced maintenance shutdowns, as well as all the reductions imposed in production rates.