Selection of separation sequences by case-based reasoning

Typical task in process design is to determine the configuration of a separation sequence. When dealing with multicomponent mixtures, the number of possible separation methods, their combinations and process structures to be screened is huge as well as the work involved. The method used, case-based reasoning (CBR), uses existing design cases stored in the database for solving new separation problems. The synthesis method studies the physical and chemical properties of the species present in the mixture and uses the properties presenting most favourable possibilities for successful separation for retrieving the nearest cases to the current problem. The presented method has the advantage of not losing any information because no generalisations are used.