Design of Rapid-Transition Multiproduct Processes

Abstract

In continuous processes where products are changed frequently, the time required to transition from one product to the next can significantly impact the overall operating cost by changing the cycle time and inventory profiles. The design of the plant influences the dynamics of this transition and consequently the overall cost. In this paper we present a methodology to incorporate the effect of transition time into the design of a continuous multiproduct process. The design of an exothermic continuous stirred tank reactor is used to demonstrate this algorithm. The resulting design is not necessarily the steady-state economic choice nor the design that makes the transition the fastest but rather an economic compromise of the two objectives.