Optimal temperature-time policy for a packed-bed adiabatic reactor using a deactivating catalyst

Abstract The calculus of variations and Pontryagin's maximum (strong) principle are used to find the optimal temperature-time policy for a plug flow adiabatic reactor carrying out a combination of parallel and consecutive reactions under catalyst deactivation. Simplified assumptions such as first-order independent catalyst deactivation and no change in the number of moles during reaction have been assumed to facilitate uncluttered presentation of mathematical numerical aspect of the optimization technique. Extension of the effort to the optimization of complex processes using the proposed methodology appears possible.