Flexibility Analysis of a Process System Represented by the Mixed Integer Linear Programming Model

Abstract

The flexibility of a process system represented by the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model was studied. First, the existence of an operation such that system specifications can be satisfied when the uncertain parameters in the model vary over the specified range is discussed. An algorithm to examine containment of the range of tolerance required by the designer within that of system inherent tolerance is developed. Second, the degree of flexibility which represents how much variation of the uncertain parameters the system can tolerate is discussed. The magnitude of flexibility can be determined by repeating the feasibility test algorithm. As an illustration, the flexibility of the heat exchanger network represented by the MILP model is analyzed.