A knowledge-based simulation-optimization framework and system for sustainable process operations

Design and operation of chemical plants involves a combination of synthesis, analysis and evaluation of alternatives. Suchactivitieshave traditionallybeendrivenbyeconomic factorsfirst, followedbyengineering, safety and environmental considerations. Recently, chemical companies have embraced the concept of sustainable development, entailing renewable feedmaterials and energy, non-toxic and biodegradable products, andwasteminimization or even elimination at source. In this paper,we introduce a knowledgebased simulation-optimization framework for generating sustainable alternatives to chemical processes. The framework has been developed by combining different process systems engineering methodologies – the knowledge-based approach for identifying the root cause of waste generation, the hierarchical design method for generating alternative designs, sustainability metrics, and multi-objective optimization – into one coherent simulation-optimization framework. This is implemented as a decision-support system using Gensym’s G2 and the HYSYS process simulator. We illustrate the framework and system using the HDA and biodiesel production case studies. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.