A HYBRID GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR DESIGN OF BATCH CHEMICAL PROCESSES

Combining Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm with Linear Programming ( LP), SA/LP algorithm is proposed for solving nonconvex MINLP problems. An MINLP model for optimal design of multipurpose batch process with multiple routes is developed. It allows the existence of intermediate storage, parallel units in and out of phase as well as discrete equipm ent size. SA/LP algorithm is implemented to solve the proposed MINLP m odel. The results of illustrating examples are conducted and compared with those of some previous published paper. SA/LP procedure find the global optima and is shown to be far more efficient in computing time.