Optimization process for ethylene glycol production using the Pareto solution

Abstract

In this work, ? -constraint approach within ASPEN Plus environment is used to generate the Pareto solutions for two objectives: maximize productivity and minimize energy consumption, for the ethylene glycol production. Each point of Pareto solutions consists of different optimal temperature and hydrogen flowrate values, which lead to distinct amount of energy consumption and ethylene glycol product rate. These solutions give flexibility in evaluating the trade-offs and selecting the most suitable operating policy. The most satisfactory optimum and trade-off of both objectives is determined. The optimum value for ethylene glycol production and energy consumption are 109.92 kmol/hr and 11227860.10 kJ/hr, respectively, while the trade-off values are 18.02 kmol/hr and 10903846.2 kJ/hr, respectively. The comparison between multi-objective optimization and single-objective optimization concludes that a high benefit against disadvantages is achieved by implementing multi-objective optimization. The difference between multi-objective optimization and single-objective optimization for ethylene glycol production and energy consumption are -5.65 kmol/hr and 17526931.8 kJ/hr, respectively.