Studies on optimal design, operation and control of process and energy systems

Abstract

The quest for more sustainable process and energy systems requires optimal design, operation and control solutions at different temporal and spatial scales. Greenhouse gas emission and waste reduction, and renewable energy sources integration are some ongoing concerns in chemical and power generation plants. These goals should be achieved while maximizing profits and meeting technical and environmental restrictions. Process systems engineering provides reliable computational and mathematical tools to address many of these emerging issues. In this regard, control and optimization techniques have the potential to handle sustainability related challenges in chemical engineering and other fields. Optimization can be applied at molecular, process and enterprise levels, while control policies can be deployed along time intervals of milliseconds, minutes, hours and days.

In this work, studies on optimal design, operation and control in the context of chemical process and energy systems are presented. Subjects such as recovery of waste energy, national power flow systems, reactor operating policies, and integration of renewable energy are discussed. Case studies of different nature and complexity are tackled by means of mathematical programming and optimal control methods. Particularly, optimal molecular design under uncertainty, singular optimal control of chemical processes, optimal power flow of the Mexican electricity system, and model predictive control of dc-dc boost converters. Results show the capability of the utilized methods to produce optimal solutions that can be implemented in real settings or in further theoretical and practical developments.