Feasibility/Flexibility-based optimization for process design and operations

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of concepts and computational approaches for the evaluation of feasibility/flexibility and how they can be used for process design and process operations optimization. It emphasizes more recent topics in this area, in particular feasible region evaluation, feasibility-based optimization, and optimization with flexibility requirements. The description of process feasibility and the feasibility-based optimization problem are presented as a way to efficiently incorporate multiple constraints and avoid unnecessary exploration of the infeasible space in the black-box optimization context. The relationship between flexibility analysis and robust optimization is also highlighted, and opportunities in exploring synergies therein are outlined. Applications in pharmaceutical design and process scheduling are used to provide context in the utilization of the presented approaches.