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Nonlinear Programming

The problem is to minimize the total cost of constructing a distillation column given fixed specifications and costs. There are three process variables: the number of plates (N), the distillate rate (L), and the column cross-sectional area (A). The cost function can be written in terms only of N by relating A and L to N through empirical equations. Taking the derivative of the cost function and setting it equal to zero yields the minimum, which occurs when N=9 plates. The minimum total cost is $38,200 with L*=2250 lb/hr and A*=32.5 ft^2.

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solomon
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132 views

Nonlinear Programming

The problem is to minimize the total cost of constructing a distillation column given fixed specifications and costs. There are three process variables: the number of plates (N), the distillate rate (L), and the column cross-sectional area (A). The cost function can be written in terms only of N by relating A and L to N through empirical equations. Taking the derivative of the cost function and setting it equal to zero yields the minimum, which occurs when N=9 plates. The minimum total cost is $38,200 with L*=2250 lb/hr and A*=32.5 ft^2.

Uploaded by

solomon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Exercise

The cost of constructing a distillation column can be written

where C = Total cost, $ , Cp = cost per square foot of plate area, $/ft2 , A = column cross-
sectional area, ft2 , N = number of plates , Nmin, = minimum number of plates ,C = cost of shell,
$/ft3 , H = distance between plates, ft , Cf = cost of feed pump, $ , Cd = cost of distillate pump, $
, Cb = cost of bottoms pump, $ , CL = cost of reflux pump, $ , Cx = other fixed costs, $.
The problem is to minimize the total cost, once produce specifications and the throughput are
fixed and the product and feed pumping costs are fixed; that is, Cf, Cd, CL, and Cb, are fixed.
After selection of the material of construction, the costs are determined; that is, Cp, Cs, Cx are
also fixed
The process variables can be related through two empirical equations:
For a certain separation and distillation column the following parameters are known to apply

The pump cost for the reflux stream can be expressed as

(a) Determine the process decision or independent variables. Which variables are dependent?
(b) Find the minimum total cost and corresponding values of the variables.
Solution
The problem is

Minimize: C  C p AN  Cs HAN  C f  Cd  Cb  CL  Cx

Subject to:

L  1  L 
  
D 1  N min / N   D min

A = K (L + D)
N > Nmin
With numerical values, this becomes (Nmin = 5)

Minimize: C  50 AN  0.7 L  22,000 (a)

Subject to:

1000 N
L (b)
N 5
L  1000
A (c)
100
N>5 (d)
a. The variables are A, L, and N. Although N is an integer we will assume it to be a continuous
variable. A and L may be eliminated using equations (b) and (c) to get a cost function in terms of
N only (the independent variable):
 10 N   1, 000 N 
C  50 N   10   0.7    22, 000
 N 5   N 5 

1, 000 N 2  20, 200 N  110, 000


C =
N 5
Thus, N is the independent variable, and A and L are dependent variables. To obtain the
minimum,
Use
The use Chain rule and Quotient rule

( )( ) ( )
( )
dC 1, 000 N 2  10, 000 N  9, 000
 0
dN ( N  5)2

N = 1 or N = 9
Because of constraint (d), select N = 9
( )( ) ( ) ( )
( )
Take common
( )⌈ ( )( ) ( ) ⌉
( )

Re arrange
( )
( )

( )
= 500

d 2C
 500  0. This is a minimum
dN 2 N 9

b. C*  $38200 , N *  9 plates, L* = 2250 lb/hr, A* = 32.5 ft2

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