GENERALIZED MODULAR REPRESENTATION FRAMEWORK FOR PROCESS SYNTHESIS

A generalized modeling framework for process synthesis alternatives is proposed, based on fundamental mass/heat-transfer principles. A multi purpose mass/heat-transfer module is introduced as the building block of the framework, whereas basic block-superstructure rules (such as sp litting, mixing, and bypassing) ave used to develop a systematic repre sentation of process units and process structures, conventional or not . Process synthesis procedures ave explored within this modeling frame work,, where synthesis alternatives are not postulated as process unit networks, but explored simultaneously without predefining synthesis s chemes, as combinations of mass/heat-exchange stream matches. The repr esentation potential of this framework is illustrated with examples fr om unit operations whereas synthesis example problems are presented to show the broad range of process alternatives that can be modeled iden tified and optimized.