Synthesis and optimization of an isothermal CSTR-network for the cyclohexane oxidation process
This paper deals with the synthesis and optimization of an isothermal CSTR-network for the industrially widespread cyclohexane oxidation process. Generally the mathematical representation of synthesis and optimization problems is attained by a superstructure, which considers all reasonable process topologies with respect to feasible connectivity options and alternative unit operations. Integer variables indicating the selection of process units from the superstructure and nonlinear process constraints arising from the unit models and thermodynamic calculations lead to a Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) optimization problem. Here a new approach is introduced, where the corresponding MINLP optimization problem is handled by a commercial equation-oriented flowsheeting package in combination with a Mixed-integer Linear Programming (MILP) routine.
mixed-integer nonlinear programming flowsheeting process synthesis process optimization reactor network oxidation of cyclohexane