Synthesis, optimal planning and scheduling for process plant utility systems

Abstract A systematic methodology is presented for the synthesis, optimal planning and scheduling of plant utility systems. The methodology first addresses long-term synthesis and planning problems and continues with short-term maintenance scheduling applications. The synthesis approach determines new units, their layout, their number and capacities, as well as the operating strategies appropriate in view of process variations. The scheduling problem methodology determines maintenance, along with shut-down and start-up schedules for uncertain operational scenarios. The optimisation technology is applied in the form of natural decomposition schemes.