NEW-GENERATION TOOLS FOR MULTIPHASE REACTION SYSTEMS - A VALIDATED SYSTEMATIC METHODOLOGY FOR NOVELTY AND DESIGN AUTOMATION

An overall methodology is presented for the early screening and scopin g of the promising reactor designs for the multiphase reaction systems . The reactor designs are screened with a systematic methodology based on a novel representation and a reliable optimization approach. The w ork significantly extends previous efforts in homogeneous systems and the stochastic optimization adopted in this work is able to handle typ ical complexities. The paper also discusses ways of finding optimum ne twork of non-isothermal reactors. A comprehensive representation and a suitable methodology for the purpose are discussed. Optimum temperatu re profiles are evaluated without restriction to any particular mode o f heat;transfer. A network of adiabatic reactors with intermediate hea t exchangers and both direct and indirect heat transfers is also prese nted. The method is taking up applications in industry and is illustra ted here with an example of reactive liquid-liquid extraction with mul tiple reversible reactions. The application bf the approach to nonisot hermal systems is illustrated with a simple van de Vusse type of react ion. The overall methodology can be used asa targeting tool to find th e limiting performance of the reaction systems as well as to evaluate the network of ideal reactors, which can achieve this performance. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.