IDEAS Minimization of Entropy Generation for Isothermal/Isobaric/Constant Density Reactor Networks Featuring Both Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions

Abstract:

In this paper, a methodology for the globally optimal synthesis of isothermal/isobaric/constant density, exothermic/endothermic reactor networks featuring minimum entropy generation is presented. The proposed methodology employs the Infinite DimEnsionAl State-space (IDEAS) conceptual framework, which is shown to be applicable to the problem under consideration. The IDEAS framework considers all possible reactor units, and all possible mixing and splitting interconnections among them. The resulting mathematical formulation is an infinite-dimensional program with linear constraints and a possibly non-linear nonconvex objective function to be minimized. It will be shown that the IDEAS framework can be used to generate optimal networks featuring minimum entropy generation that are largely dependent upon the reactor network’s internal structure unlike the case where all the reactions taking place are of only one kind (all exothermic, or all endothermic), in which case entropy generation is independent of the reactor network's structure. The proposed method is demonstrated on a case study. Finally, conclusions are drawn.