Parametric process synthesis for general nonlinear models

This paper presents a new approach towards parametric analysis of MINLP models in the context of process synthesis problems under uncertainty. The approach is based on the idea of High Dimensional Model Representation technique which utilize a reduced number of model runs to build an uncertainty propagation model that expresses the variability of optimal solution in the uncertain space. Based on this idea, a systematic procedure is developed where in the first step the possible changes in the optimal design configurations due to parametric uncertainty are identified. In the next step, the variability of optimal solution with parameter uncertainty for each design is captured. Having obtained a parametric expression of optimal objective for each design, the optimal solution can be determined by comparing the solutions for different designs. The proposed approach provides information about variation of the optimal objective and optimal design configuration over the entire uncertain space. This information can then be judiciously utilized in any decision making depending on specific process requirements. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that it does not depend on the nature or existence of a mathematical model to describe the input-output relationship of the process. # 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.