Optimal design of extractive dividing-wall column using an efficient equation-oriented approach

Abstract

The extractive dividing-wall column (EDWC) is one of the most efficient technologies for separation of azeotropic or close boiling-point mixtures, but its design is fairly challenging. In this paper we extend the hybrid feasible path optimisation algorithm (Ma Y, McLaughlan M, Zhang N, Li J. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2020, 143: 107058) for such optimal design. The tolerances-relaxation integration method is refined to allow for long enough integration time that can ensure the solution of the pseudo-transient continuation simulation close to the steady state before the required tolerance is used. To ensure the gradient and Jacobian information available for optimisation, we allow a relaxed tolerance for the simulation in the sensitivity analysis mode when the simulation diverges under small tolerance. In addition, valid lower bounds on purity of the recycled entrainer and the vapour flow rate in column sections are imposed to improve computational efficiency. The computational results demonstrate that the extended hybrid algorithm can achieve better design of the EDWC compared to those in literature. The energy consumption can be reduced by more than 20% compared with existing literature report. In addition, the optimal design of the heat pump assisted EDWC is achieved using the improved hybrid algorithm for the first time.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

design / extractive dividing-wall column / equation-oriented optimisation / pseudo-transient continuation model / hybrid algorithm

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the financial support from China Scholarship Council‒The University of Manchester Joint scholarship (Grant No. 201809120005). Cuiwen Cao would like to thank the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61673175).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-020-1977-y and is accessible for authorized users.

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2020 The Author(s) 2020. This article is published with open access at link.springer.com and journal.hep.com.cn