Application of Life Cycle Assessment to the Structural Optimization of Process Flowsheets

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• 作者：Gonzalo Guill&eacute ; n-Gosá ; lbez ; Jos&eacute ; Antonio Caballero ; Laureano Jim&eacute ; nez
• 刊名：Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
• 出版年：2008
• 出版时间：February 6, 2008
• 年：2008
• 卷：47
• 期：3
• 页码：777 - 789
• 全文大小：816K
• 年卷期：v.47,no.3(February 6, 2008)
• ISSN：1520-5045

文摘

This work proposes a novel framework for the optimal design of chemical processes whose main novelty liesin the incorporation of environmental concerns based on the principles of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)methodology. The approach presented applies mixed-integer modeling techniques to the superstructureoptimization of sustainable chemical process flowsheets. As such, the resulting mathematical formulationsimultaneously accounts for the minimization of the environmental impact and the cost. The environmentalimpact is measured through the Eco-indicator 99, which reflects the advances in the damage-oriented methodrecently developed for Life Cycle Impact Assessment. The incorporation of this environmental performancemeasure at the modeling stage causes a multiobjective mixed-integer nonlinear problem (moMINLP) thatcan be addressed by standard techniques for multiobjective optimization. The main advantages of our approachare highlighted through its application to a well-known design problem (the hydrodealkylation (HDA) oftoluene), for which the set of trade-off solutions, in terms of cost and environmental criteria, is computed.The obtained results show that an inherent tradeoff naturally exists between both objectives and also suggestthat significant environmental improvements can be achieved if decision makers are willing to compromisethe economic benefit of the process.