Many-Objective Simulation-Based Optimization of an Air Separation Unit

Santiago D Salas; Dany De Cecchis; Bryan V Piguave; José A Romagnoli

doi:10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.08.295

Many-Objective Simulation-Based Optimization of an Air Separation Unit

IFAC Pap OnLine. 2021;54(3):522-527. doi: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.08.295. Epub 2021 Sep 8.

Authors

Santiago D Salas¹, Dany De Cecchis¹, Bryan V Piguave¹, José A Romagnoli²

Affiliations

¹ Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km. 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.

Abstract

Air separation systems are crucial in the production of oxygen, which has gained particular relevance during the COVID-19 outbreak. Mechanical ventilation can compensate respiratory deficiencies along with the use of medical oxygen in vulnerable patients infected with this disease. In this contribution, a many-objective simulation-based optimization framework is proposed for determining eleven decision variables for the operation of an air separation unit. The framework combines the capabilities of the process simulator PRO/II with a Python environment. Three objective functions are optimized together towards the construction of a 3-D Pareto front. Results provide insightful information regarding the most adequate operating conditions of the unit, including the definition of an operational window rather than a single operational point.

Keywords: 3-D Pareto front; Cryogenic air distillation; Many-objective optimization; Operational window.