Prediction of New Distillation-Membrane Separation Integrated Process with Potential in Industrial Application

Xin Ding,Xiaohong Wang,Peng Du,Zenghu Tian,Jingxuan Chen

doi:10.3390/pr9020318

Abstract

In this paper, a new integrated distillation-membrane separation process solution strategy based on genetic programming (GP) was established for azeotrope separation. Then, a price evaluation method based on the theory of unit membrane area was proposed, so that those membranes which are still in the experimental stage and have no actual industrial cost for reference can also be used in the experimental research. For different characteristics and separation requirements of various azeotropic systems, the solution strategy can be matched with difference pervaporation membranes, and the optimal distillation-membrane separation integrated process can be solved quickly and accurately. Taking methanol-toluene as an example, the separation operation was optimized by using the algorithm. The effects of different feed flows and compositions on the modification of the chitosan membrane were discussed. These results provide a reliable basis for the prospects for development and modification direction of membrane materials which are still in the experimental research stage.

Highlights

The separation of the azeotropic system has always been a hot and difficult topic in the field of the chemical industry because the relative volatility is near to 1 at the azeotropic point [1,2]
In order to make a profound study of the optimal membrane type, the membrane material and membrane characteristics in the integrated distillation membrane separation, an improved genetic programming (GP) algorithm is proposed in this paper
When the feed flow rate was 100 kg/h and the methanol content was 10 wt%, the optimal distillation membrane separation integrated process searched by the GP comprehensive solution strategy was the D-PV structure, and the Pmax of the chitosan membrane before and after modification were 131 and 246 $/(m2·year), respectively

Summary

Introduction

The separation of the azeotropic system has always been a hot and difficult topic in the field of the chemical industry because the relative volatility is near to 1 at the azeotropic point [1,2]. Due to the different coupling degrees of distillation membrane integration, it is difficult to fully describe the complexity and diversity of the process structure This complexity is reflected in the difficulty of solving multi-objective optimization problems. The research group has carried out some research on GP [19,20,21] On this basis, the GP algorithm is proposed to solve the distillation and membrane separation problem [22]. The node definition, population generation, and genetic algorithm are optimized for the azeotrope system and membrane material, and the distillation membrane integrated solution strategy is established. In order to make a profound study of the optimal membrane type, the membrane material and membrane characteristics in the integrated distillation membrane separation, an improved GP algorithm is proposed in this paper. The tree code generation rules, initial population generation, and termination criteria in the GP comprehensive solution strategy are all referred to in the previous work [22]

Membrane Cost Theory Prediction Method

Cost Model of Distillation Column

Cost Model of Membrane Module Separation

Calculation of Industrial Examples

Influence of Feed Composition on Chitosan Membrane Modification

Conclusions