Split: II. Authomated synthesis of hybrid liquid separation systems

Abstract

In previous articles we described the concepts underlying the development of SPLIT, a blackboard-based integrated software environment (Wahnschafft et al., 1991a) for the automated synthesis of separation processes and presented a methodology (Wahnschafft et al., 1991b) for the systematic synthesis of flowsheets incorporating methods that cannot accomplish complete separations, i.e. high purity and high recovery, in single-unit processes. This paper discusses the knowledge base of the current prototype system and illustrates the realization of the synthesis methodology. Emphasis is on the capability of SPLIT to synthesize complex process structures for the separation of highly nonideal multicomponent mixtures. The quick screening methods used for the selection of separation methods and agents are demonstrated on a number of examples involving azeotrope-forming systems.