Chemical Engineering Seminar - “Discrete and Continuous Optimization Models for the Design and Operation of Sustainable and Robust Process Systems” by Ignacio E. Grossmann, Center for Advanced Process Decision-Making, Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
ABSTRACT:
In
this
presentation
we
give
an
overview
of
recent
applications
in
Process
Systems
Engineering
of
new
discrete
and
continuous
optimization
techniques.
We
first
provide
a
brief
overview
of
logic-based
optimization
methods,
emphasizing
the
theoretical
relation
of
the
continuous
relaxations
between
mixed-integer
programming
and
generalized
disjunctive
programming
for
nonconvex
optimization
problems.
We
discuss
approaches
for
solving
these
problems
to
global
optimality,
with
the
major
aim
being
the
prediction
of
tight
lower
bounds
on
the
global
optimum.
Several
applications
are
presented
to
highlight
the
recent
advances
of
these
techniques,
and
their
impact
for
improving
the
design
and
operation
of
sustainable
and
robust
process
systems
through
creative
mathematical
modeling.
In
the
area
of
sustainable
process
synthesis
we
consider
as
examples
the
synthesis
of
integrated
process
water
systems,
and
the
energy
optimization
of
corn-based
and
lignocellulosic
bio-ethanol
plants
in
which
we
also
illustrate
the
synergy
between
energy
and
water
optimization.
We
also
consider
the
application
of
mixed-integer
optimization
methods
in
the
area
of
process
operations
under
uncertainty
where
we
consider
the
optimal
design
of
responsive
supply
chains
and
optimal
design
of
oil
and
gas
offshore
facilities.
The
former
problem
involves
uncertainties
in
demands,
while
the
latter
involves
uncertainties
in
the
reservoir
sizes
and
deliverabilities.
Both
problems
have
in
common
the
goal
of
providing
robustness
to
the
operation
of
the
process
system.
Bio-sketch:
Prof.
Ignacio
E.
Grossmann
is
the
Rudolph
R.
and
Florence
Dean
University
Professor
of
Chemical
Engineering,
and
former
Department
Head
at
Carnegie
Mellon
University.
He
obtained
his
B.S.
degree
in
Chemical
Engineering
at
the
Universidad
Iberoamericana,
Mexico
City,
in
1974,
and
his
M.S.
and
Ph.D.
in
Chemical
Engineering
at
Imperial
College
in
1975
and
1977,
respectively.
After
working
as
an
R&D
engineer
at
the
Instituto
Mexicano
del
Petróleo
in
1978,
he
joined
Carnegie
Mellon
in
1979.
He
was
Director
of
the
Synthesis
Laboratory
from
the
Engineering
Design
Research
Center
in
1988-93.
He
is
director
of
the
"Center
for
Advanced
Process
Decision-making"
which
comprises
a
total
of
20
petroleum,
chemical
and
engineering
companies.
Ignacio
Grossmann
is
a
member
of
the
National
Academy
of
Engineering,
Mexican
Academy
of
Engineering,
and
associate
editor
of
AIChE
Journal
and
member
of
editorial
board
of
Computers
and
Chemical
Engineering,
Journal
of
Global
Optimization,
Optimization
and
Engineering,
Latin
American
Applied
Research,
and
Process
Systems
Engineering
Series.
He
was
Chair
of
the
Computers
and
Systems
Technology
Division
of
AIChE,
and
co-chair
of
the
1989
Foundations
of
Computer-Aided
Process
Design
Conference
and
2003
Foundations
of
Computer-Aided
Process
Operations
Conference.
He
is
a
member
of
the
American
Institute
of
Chemical
Engineers,
Institute
for
Operations
Research
and
Management
Science,
Mathematical
Optimization
Society,
and
American
Chemical
Society.