Pollution prevention through reactor network synthesis: the IDEAS approach

Abstract

A novel approach, called Infinite DimEnsional State-space (IDEAS), has been recently proposed for the synthesis of globally optimal reactor networks where homogeneous, isothermal, steady-state PFRs and CSTRs as well as mixing are allowed. Within the IDEAS framework, reactor network synthesis is formulated as an infinite dimensional linear optimisation problem. In this work, IDEAS will be applied to homogeneous and isothermal reactor network synthesis problems, with an eye on reducing byproduct formation, in the context of pollution prevention efforts. It will be shown that environmentally friendly reactor network design may be carried out, so that fundamental tradeoffs between desirable and undesirable product generation can be exactly quantified.