Industrial Water Reuse Network Synthesis by Metaheuristic Approach

This paper presents an optimization model for the synthesis of water networks. A superstructure presenting all the available candidates is proposed and the model is solved using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The objective function aims the primary water consumption minimization. The concepts of Pinch Analysis were used as a initial point to limit the solution space. The optimal reuse network presents the minimum flowrates of the primary water, reuse, wastewater and the maximum concentration of the inlets and outputs of the system. The global PSO was codified in Maple 14 and a literature example was used to test the model applicability. Results were compared with the solutions obtained using GAMS, showing the flexibility and efficiency of the methaheuristic approach in solving water network reuse synthesis problems.