A Hybrid Global Optimization Approach for Solving MINLP Models in Product Design

Abstract This paper presents a hybrid global optimization approach for solving product design (specifically solvent design) problems modeled by mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP). The strategy incorporates a variant of the Outer Approximation mathematical programming algorithm and a soft computing global optimization approach (namely simulated annealing). The suggested approach is not provably globally optimal. However, computational experience with benchmark examples and solvent design MINLP models indicate strongly that the approach gives near globally optimal solutions.

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