Enhanced heat-integrated distillation processes: Simultaneous synthesis via structural modification utilizing the matrix method

Abstract

The research on simultaneously synthesizing heat-integrated distillation (HID) processes has primarily focused on non-azeotropic mixtures, utilizing the Winn-Underwood-Gilliland shortcut method. However, there is still a lack of rigorous simultaneous synthesis methods and automated searches for HID processes, especially when dealing with azeotropic mixtures. To address this issue, this work proposes a novel design optimization approach method for HID processes. The proposed method simplifies the representation of a superstructure of HID processes by treating the condensers and reboilers as columns and rows in a matrix, respectively and the complexity of representing the superstructure is significantly reduced. By dynamically adjusting the heat integration structure, automated search of HID processes has been achieved. The method combines thermodynamic analysis to predict the liquefaction probability of the overhead vapor compression process and the temperature range of condenser and reboiler. These predictions facilitate the screening of effective candidate schemes and reduce the complexity of decision variables, leading to improved speed and robustness in the automated optimization process. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through its application to two case studies, showcasing its capability in identifying economically attractive HID schemes.