Methodology of optimization of industrial processes relating investments to operating costs

Abstract

The optimization of processes is a work area that has progressed in recent years, considering each superstructure independently, the results reflect cost constraints, since the auxiliary services and the heat exchange network would come data as the result of the plant itself, or as a function of it, and not in terms of the resulting investment for the best synthesis alternative of the analyzed process. This work proposes to compare different methodologies applicable to the optimal design of a fluid milk processing facility, using the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) sterilization mechanism, using an available commercial simulator (SuperPro Designer, V 8.5). The results show that the relative weight of investments in relation to operating costs is essential to establish an optimization methodology; Or to discard a complicated method versus a solution taken with more common sense engineers, than optimization tools, in their different versions. As for the results obtained, it is concluded that rigorous economic optimization has to be taken into account in conjunction with the best efficiency of pinch networks, and not each separately.