Global strategy for energy and waste analysis in scheduling and planning of multiproduct batch chemical processes

Energy integration and waste minimization have received increasing attention in the chemical industry. Recent studies have addressed the specific problems that arise in batch chemical processes. However, a production plan built up using schedules developed beforehand may become inefficient or even fail to attain its production targets. Furthermore, production plans satisfying demand objectives may reduce or even eliminate energy integration or waste minimization opportunities. In this work, waste and energy minimization are treated as an integral part of the constrained production scheduling problem with limited resources. The methodology developed is based on a comprehensive and rigorous modelling framework used to describe the detailed batch process operations as a preliminary step rewards their optimization. The methodology will be presented and results from case studies will be provided to illustrate the complex interaction between energy integration, waste minimization and production planning in multiproduct batch processes.