Process design and intensification of multicomponent azeotropes special distillation separation via molecular simulation and system optimization

This work provides an overview of distillation processes,including process design for different distillation processes,selection of entrainers for special distillation processes,system integration and intensification of distillation processes,optimization of process parameters for distillation processes and recent research progress in dynamic control strategies.Firstly,the feasibility of using thermodynamic topological theories such as residual curve,phase equilibrium line and distillation boundary line to analyze different separation regions is discussed,and the rationality of distillation process design is discussed by using its feasibility.Secondly,the application of molecular simulation methods such as molecular dynamics simulation and quantum chemical calculation in the screening of entrainer is discussed for the extractive distillation process.The thermal coupling mechanism of different distillation processes is used to explore the process of different process intensifications.Next,a mixed integer nonlinear optimization strategy for the distillation process based on different algorithms is introduced.Finally,the improvement of dynamic control strategies for different distillation processes in recent years is summarized.This work focuses on the application of process intensification and system optimization in the design of distillation process,and analyzes the challenges,prospects,and development trends of distillation technology in the separation of multicomponent azeotropes.

基于Process Designer的白车身数字化工厂数据检查软件开发和应用

为提高规划员检查供应商Process Designer(PD)数据的效率,同时规范供应商的数据设计行为,运用创新思维模式,自主开发了基于PD的白车身数字化工厂数据检查软件。该软件采用.NET环境下的C#语言编程,同时支持数据节点属性和树结构的检查、支持检查规则的可配置功能,增强了软件的可扩展性,软件可以100%检查节点属性和树结构与技术规范的符合性,并提供了良好的报错视图,方便问题的查找和更正。目前该检查软件已经在公司各车型项目上应用,可有效地执行检查工作,极大地提高了数据检查的效率和准确性,一个全新车型项目PD数字化工厂数据总检查时间可从原来的45天缩短到20天左右,是一个降本增效的优秀数字化应用案例。

采用Process Designer的白车身焊装生产线工艺规划研究

白车身焊装生产线工艺规划是决定汽车整车生产周期的重要环节。以先进的数字化工厂技术软件——ProcessDesigner为平台,通过创建制造信息模型和工艺过程模型,实现对白车身焊装生产线的生产信息管理和工艺过程规划,构建了白车身焊装生产线工艺规划系统,并详细描述了其工艺规划实现的具体方法和步骤,最后以某型白车身底板焊装线为例,生成了基于规划系统的数字化三维工厂,对规划结果进行了验证。结果表明,利用该系统进行焊装工艺规划能显著缩短工艺规划时间,提高工艺规划的准确性。

Review on biomass metallurgy:Pretreatment technology,metallurgical mechanism and process design

The metallurgy industry consumes a considerable amount of coal and fossil fuels,and its carbon dioxide emissions are increasing every year.Replacing coal with renewable,carbon-neutral biomass for metallurgical production is of great significance in reducing global carbon consumption.This study describes the current state of research in biomass metallurgy in recent years and analyzes the concept and scientific principles of biomass metallurgy.The fundamentals of biomass pretreatment technology and biomass metallurgy technology were discussed,and the industrial application framework of biomass metallurgy was proposed.Furthermore,the economic and social advantages of biomass metallurgy were analyzed to serve as a reference for the advancement of fundamental theory and industrial application of biomass metallurgy.

A Strategy for Multi-objective Optimization under Uncertainty in Chemical Process Design

In many circumstances, chemical process design can be formulated as a multi-objective optimization （MOO） problem. Examples include bi-objective optimization problems, where the economic objective is maximized and environmental impact is minimized simultaneously. Moreover, the random behavior in the process,property, market fluctuation, errors in model prediction and so on would affect the performance of a process. Therefore, it is essential to develop a MOO methodology under uncertainty. In this article, the authors propose a generic and systematic optimization methodology for chemical process design under uncertainty. It aims at identifying the optimal design from a number of candidates. The utility of this methodology is demonstrated by a case study based on the design of a condensate treatment unit in an ammonia plant.

Process Design for Separating C4 Mixtures by Extractive Distillation

C4 components are useful in industry and should be separated as individuals. A new process was proposed to separate them by extractive distillation, with the advantages of low equipment investment, energy consumption and liquid load in the columns. One principle to improve the extractive distillation process was put forward. Moreover, the analysis of operation state of the new process was done. There were eight operation states found for the whole process, but only one operation state was desirable. This work provides a way to effectively separate C4 mixtures and helps the reasonable utilization of C4 resource.

Process Design of Continuous-Flow Pervaporation Separation for Alcohol Dehydration

The separation characteristics of the PVA-CS (polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan) blended composite membrane for dehydration of ethanol-water mixture are examined. The relationships of flux and separation factor with the feed concentration and operation temperature are established. Using this correlated equation, the continuous-flow pervaporation process about 500 kilolitres/year dehydrated ethanol is designed. The numbers of stage and reheater are calculated by stage-by-stage method for two kinds of cascades: one with equal membrane area and the other with 10℃ of temperature decrement per section. The results show that when the numbers of stage and reheater are the same, the cascade with 10℃ of temperature decrement has more advantages than that with equal membrane area. The influences of feed concentration and flow rate on the numbers of stage and reheater in the cascades are discussed.

Research and application of the digitalization of the production process design for plate steels

There are multiple processes and corresponding parameters in steel production, and combinations of these comprise various process routes.Different steel products require distinct process routes due to variations in performance targets.Thus, how to accurately set each key process parameter in certain process routes is an ongoing conundrum, because it not only requires a wealth of expert experience but also generates additional costs from the trial productions.In this paper, a new production design system for plate steels is proposed.The proposed system consists of methodology and function development.For methodology, multi-task Elastic Net, clustering, classification, and other methods are used to design process routes.Furthermore, the results are expressed in the form of parameter confidence intervals, which are close to practical application scenarios.For function development, the steel plate process route design function is developed on the Process Intelligent Data Application System(PIDAS) intelligent big data platform.The results demonstrate the method’s practical application value.

Application of CAD redevelopment in process design of stepping-mode laser blanking

To design a stepping-mode laser blanking process,in this study,CAD software was redeveloped based on VBA and a computer interface was established in the process design system. The program employs the modularization method to perform functions including one-key initialization of the process planning environment,creation and deletion of blanking steps,automatic identification of belt coordinates,recognition of the number of blanking steps in each domain,and the output and import of process data. The difficult problem of recognizing CAD block references with the same name in the automatic acquisition of belt coordinates is solved using the selection sets method,which greatly improves the efficiency of the process design,while also guaranteeing rapid development of the flexible data mold in stepping-mode laser blanking.

Optimization and Process Design Tools for Estimation of Weekly Exposure to Air Pollution Integrating Travel Patterns during Pregnancy

A growing number of international studies have highlighted that ambient air pollution exposures are related to different health outcomes. To do so, researchers need to estimate exposure levels to air pollution throughout everyday life. In the literature, the most commonly used estimate is based on home address only or taking into account, in addition, the work address. However, several studies have shown the importance of daily mobility in the estimate of exposure to air pollutants. In this context, we developed an R procedure that estimates individual exposures combining home addresses, several important places, and itineraries of the principal mobility during a week. It supplies researchers a useful tool to calculate individual daily exposition to air pollutants weighting by the time spent at each of the most frequented locations (work, shopping, residential address, etc.) and while commuting. This task requires the efficient calculation of travel time matrices or the examination of multimodal transport routes. This procedure is freely available from the Equit’Area project website: (https://www.equitarea.org). This procedure is structured in three parts: the first part is to create a network, the second allows to estimate main itineraries of the daily mobility and the last one tries to reconstitute the level of air pollution exposure. One main advantage of the tool is that the procedure can be used with different spatial scales and for any air pollutant.

Process design for gas condensate desulfurization and synthesis of nano-13X zeolite adsorbent: equilibrium and dynamic studies

This paper summarizes the results of a study of adsorption of sulfur compounds from a high-sulfur feed on improved spherical-shaped nano-AgX zeolite. For this purpose, the nano-AgX zeolite was initially synthesized and improved with silver compounds such as silver nitrate, and then it was utilized in the adsorption process. In order to investigate the equilibrium and dynamics of the adsorption process, adsorptive desulfurization of real feed(i.e., sour gas condensate from the South Pars gas field) was carried out in batch and continuous processes under several operating conditions; a temperature-dependent Langmuir isotherm model was used to fit the equilibrium data. The value of monolayer adsorption capacity(q_m) and adsorption enthalpy(ΔH) were calculated to be 1.044 mmol/g and 16.8 kJ/mol, respectively. Furthermore, a detailed theoretical model was employed in order to model the breakthrough experiments. The results revealed that an increase in the feed flow rate and 1/T values will cause linear and exponential increase in the total mass transfer coefficient(ks). Isotherm and dynamic breakthrough models were found to be in agreement with the experimental data.

Hydroforming Process Design Using Finite Element Simulation for a Vehicle Instrument Panel Support Frame

Tubular hydroforming has attracted increased attention in the vehicle industry recently. This paper covers a complete hydroforming process design for an instrum ent panel frame by finite element simulation using the explicit code LS-DYNA. The manufacturing process for the instrument panel frame consists of tube pre-be nding and final hydroforming. To accomplish hydroforming process design successf ully, a thorough investigation of proper combination of process parameters such as internal hydraulic pressure and axial feeding is carried out by finite element simulation to predict the tube wall thickness and shape. An optimized process parameter combination is obtained and verified by the instrument panel frame hyd roforming experiment. The experiment shows that designed process parameters can be used in real production through FEA simulation, but tubular thinned amplitu de by FEA is less than that with the experiment.

浅谈基于Process Designer的总装数字化工厂搭建

面对汽车制造业的日益竞争,如何降低成本,提高质量是关键,应用Process Designer作为总装解决方案,制作虚拟生产工厂,规划工艺布局,实现总装数字化工厂搭建,对于缩短整车开发时间,提高设备利用率,有效控制车间资源及物料摆布具有巨大作用。

Characterization of Feed Properties for Conceptual Process Design Involving Complex Mixtures, Such as Natural Extracts

The number of products used as agro-chemicals, food additives, flavors, aromas, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals which are made by fermentation or extraction from plants has increased significantly. Despite this growth, initial predictions for a potential product purification process for these complex mixtures remains entirely experimentally based. The present work represents an initial study to demonstrate the benefits of a systematic approach. For process development of chemically well-studied systems model based process design methods are already available. Therefore the proposed approach focuses on a method for the efficient characterization of the physical properties of the key components. Once this is adequately defined, unit operations and their potential to separate the feed components can be modeled. The current state of research is discussed. Based on this evaluation the most efficient method for conceptual process development has been identified and further developed. The resulting methodology consists of model-based cost accounting accompanied by experimental model-parameter determination. The latter is carried out at in miniaturized laboratory-scale measurement cells for each unit operation using the complete original feed. The model-based modelparameter determination from these experiments is accompanied by a comprehensive error analysis. The experimental plan currently includes the determination of thermodynamic equilibrium conditions in the mixture directly from the raw material mixture. Transport kinetics and fluid dynamic parameters are first estimated from known correlations or preexisting knowledge. Later on these parameters are determined exactly in mini-plant experiments. Furthermore, biological and botanical-based guidelines are developed to identify thermodynamically favored basic operations. Finally, the developed approaches are successfully validated using two plant extracts. Firstly, it could be proven that the botanical pre-selection can reduce the experimental plan significantly. Secondly, it was shown that the experimental equilibrium data of the kinetics and fluid dynamics can have a significant impact on the separation costs. Therefore, detailed rigorous modeling approaches have to be chosen instead of short-cut methods in order to make any valid process development conclusions or to further optimize the system.

Design of Traditional Chinese Medicine Extraction Workshop Process and Automation System

Objective: This paper takes the example of a Panax notoginseng extraction workshop and designs an automated production workshop with advanced domestic capabilities. Methods: 1) Based on the small-scale Panax notoginseng extraction process, the feasibility of the workshop production process is demonstrated. 2) The workshop process design for Panax Notoginseng saponin extraction is completed, including production organization plans and the selection of key equipment. 3) For the Panax notoginseng extraction workshop process, an automated production control system is designed. Conclusion: Through optimized design of the production process and automation system, continuous and automated production of traditional Chinese medicine extraction is achieved, leading to improvements in drug quality and production efficiency.

Combining reinforcement learning with mathematical programming:An approach for optimal design of heat exchanger networks

Heat integration is important for energy-saving in the process industry.It is linked to the persistently challenging task of optimal design of heat exchanger networks(HEN).Due to the inherent highly nonconvex nonlinear and combinatorial nature of the HEN problem,it is not easy to find solutions of high quality for large-scale problems.The reinforcement learning(RL)method,which learns strategies through ongoing exploration and exploitation,reveals advantages in such area.However,due to the complexity of the HEN design problem,the RL method for HEN should be dedicated and designed.A hybrid strategy combining RL with mathematical programming is proposed to take better advantage of both methods.An insightful state representation of the HEN structure as well as a customized reward function is introduced.A Q-learning algorithm is applied to update the HEN structure using theε-greedy strategy.Better results are obtained from three literature cases of different scales.

Review of Design of Process Parameters for Squeeze Casting

Squeeze casting(SC)is an advanced net manufacturing process with many advantages for which the quality and properties of the manufactured parts depend strongly on the process parameters.Unfortunately,a universal efficient method for the determination of optimal process parameters is still unavailable.In view of the shortcomings and development needs of the current research methods for the setting of SC process parameters,by consulting and analyzing the recent research literature on SC process parameters and using the CiteSpace literature analysis software,manual reading and statistical analysis,the current state and characteristics of the research methods used for the determination of SC process parameters are summarized.The literature data show that the number of pub-lications in the literature related to the design of SC process parameters generally trends upward albeit with signifi-cant fluctuations.Analysis of the research focus shows that both“mechanical properties”and“microstructure”are the two main subjects in the studies of SC process parameters.With regard to materials,aluminum alloys have been extensively studied.Five methods have been used to obtain SC process parameters:Physical experiments,numeri-cal simulation,modeling optimization,formula calculation,and the use of empirical values.Physical experiments are the main research methods.The main methods for designing SC process parameters are divided into three categories:Fully experimental methods,optimization methods that involve modeling based on experimental data,and theoreti-cal calculation methods that involve establishing an analytical formula.The research characteristics and shortcomings of each method were analyzed.Numerical simulations and model-based optimization have become the new required methods.Considering the development needs and data-driven trends of the SC process,suggestions for the develop-ment of SC process parameter research have been proposed.

Thinking process rules extraction for manufacturing process design

To realize the reuse of process design knowledge and improve the efficiency and quality of process design, a method for extracting thinking process rules for process design is proposed. An instance representation model of the process planning reflecting the thinking process of techni- cians is established to achieve an effective representation of the process documents. The related process attributes are extracted from the model to form the related events. The manifold learning algorithm and clustering analysis are used to preprocess the process instance data. A rule extraction mechanism of process design is introduced, which is based on the related events after dimension reduction and clustering, and uses the association rule mining algorithm to realize the similar process information extraction in the same cluster. Through the vectorization description of the related events, the final process design rules are formed. Finally, an example is given to evaluate the method of process design rules extraction.

Process Development and Design of Chlorine Dioxide Production Based on Hydrogen Peroxide

This paper presents a process development and design of chlorine dioxide production based on hydrogen peroxide. The process is characterized by cleaner production, high efficiency, and waste minimization. Optimization of process conditions, selection of equipment, and experiment of recycle of waste acid are carried out. The process design is realized in consideration of several aspects such as operation, material, equipment design and safety. An industrialized process flowsheet is developed according to experiment. A pilot testing is carried out to confirm the lab results. Process design of chlorine dioxide production based on hydrogen peroxide is realized.