(500f) A Consolidated/Unified Framework for Computer-Aided Process Synthesis-Intensification

Process intensification offers drastic improvements in process performance through combining multiple phenomena, tasks and unit operations in a synergistic manner. However, identification of optimal intensification strategy and the corresponding optimal design is often challenging due to the large design space and potential intensification pathways that might exist for a given synthesis problem. This requires systematic methodologies to generate and screen intensified alternatives. To this end, several representation and synthesis methods exist for computer-aided systematic process intensification which rely on departure from unit operation-based design that has been the prevalent design paradigm within the last century and suggest more fundamental representations based on physicochemical phenomena, processing tasks and functions to formulate the systematic process intensification problem [1].

In this work, we describe a unified framework that brings together several of these approaches that build on fundamental descriptors and phenomena-based building blocks [2-6]. The framework provides a workflow that will guide the users to employ the most appropriate of the process options available via: (i) the identification of candidate phenomena, tasks and unit operations, (ii) the automated generation of multiple intensified/non-intensified alternatives, and (iii) the flowsheet screening and optimization. Through examples, we illustrate the efficacy of the framework for the design and discovery of novel and intensified alternatives.

References:

1. Tian, Y., S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan and E.N. Pistikopoulos, An overview of process systems engineering approaches for process intensification: State of the art. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, 2018. 133: p. 160-210.
2. Demirel, S. E., Li, J., & Hasan, M. F. (2019). Systematic process intensification. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2018.12.001.
3. Tian, Y., & Pistikopoulos, E. N. (2019). Synthesis of operable process intensification systems: advances and challenges. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2018.12.003.
4. Tula, A.K., D.K. Babi, J. Bottlaender, M.R. Eden and R. Gani, A computer-aided software-tool for sustainable process synthesis-intensification. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2017. 105: p. 74-95.
5. Papalexandri, K.P. and E.N. Pistikopoulos, Generalized modular representation framework for process synthesis. AIChE Journal, 1996. 42(4): p. 1010-1032.
6. Demirel, S.E., J. Li and M.F. Hasan, Systematic process intensification using building blocks. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2017. 105: p. 2-38.