Optimal Design of SMB Units: A Novel Strategy Based on Particles Swarm Optimization

Abstract The Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) is a separation device whose use has been increasing, especially in separations that demand high purities like the chiral separation. Process Design is a topic often discussed in the literature and is usually limited to a sensitivity analysis. An optimal design of a SMB unit offers challenges due to its complexity on dynamics and numerical levels. Thus, there is a lack of a consistent methodology to optimize the SMB design. This work is focused on the SMB design which will be made using the Particles Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. For the first time, PSO will be used to choose the configuration, i.e., length of each section, of the True Moving Bed (the theoretical model of the SMB) unit for the case of the separation of the bi-naphthol enantiomers. The operating conditions, in terms of flowrates, will also be optimized. Globally, with the design strategy that was implemented, the system’s productivity is at least 30% higher than previous results reported in the literature for the TMB without optimization of the device configuration. The SMB that was designed from this configuration enables to increase the separation productivity at least 20% in comparison with previous results.

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