在本篇論文中,利用模擬最適化並以年總成本為目標函數,比較三成分無共沸物系統之分離程序,共有七種分離程序做比較:直接序列設計、直接序列設計搭配堆疊整合、間接序列設計、間接序列設計搭配堆疊整合以及三種內隔壁式蒸餾塔,所有分離程序皆是使用嚴謹程序模擬,並利用模擬退火演算法做最適化。 在結果呈現中,運用三元相圖表示不同進料組成之最適分離程序,此外,以所有數據回歸出為進料組成、相對揮發度、分離難度指標函數之模型,此模型可用於預測未知系統,若擁有未知系統之進料組成與其相對揮發度,便可預測其最適分離程序。 本篇論文結果指出堆疊整合於分離三成分系統之重要性,當考慮堆疊整合之應用時,許多進料組成之最適分離程序,相較於不考慮堆疊整合時,都更傾向於使用直接序列設計搭配堆疊整合或間接序列設計搭配堆疊整合,而非使用內隔壁式蒸餾塔。
Alternatives for separation of three-component zeotropic mixtures are compared using simulation-optimization with total annual cost as the objective function. Conventional two-column sequences with and without column stacking are compared with three types of dividing-wall columns (DWCs). All processes are modeled with a rigorous process simulator and optimized using simulated annealing algorithm (SA). The results are represented using ternary maps and used to regress parameters of a model that predicts the relative cost of process alternatives as a function of the feed composition, relative volatilities (α) and ease of separation index (ESI). The results highlight the importance of considering column stacking when choosing a process alternative for ternary separation: In some cases, the region where the stacked two-column configuration is preferable to a dividing-wall column is significantly larger than the area where a conventional two-column configuration is preferable to a dividing-wall column.