Chemical processing system

• US 8,346,519 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRD Corporation, Process Asset Integration & Management Ltd
• Original Assignee: University of Manchester
• Inventors: Yin, Qiying, Zhang, Nan
• Primary Examiner(s): Thangavelu, Kandasamy
• Application Number:
  US12/530,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 703/2, 703/6, 700/99, 700/286, 705/7, 705/7.25, 702/184, 701/2, 701/3
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0033 Optimalisation processes, i.e. processes with adaptive control systems adaptive control systems per se G05B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00243 Mathematical modelling

Abstract

A method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses includes defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus. The system model is analysed with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system.

A parameter relating to at least one apparatus is indicative of the availability and/or the reliability of the apparatus expressed as a function of time.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses, the method being implemented in a computer comprising a memory in communication with a processor, the method comprising:

defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus;

analysing, by the processor, the system model with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system,

wherein at least one parameter relating to at least one of said apparatuses is indicative of at least one of an availability and a reliability of an apparatus expressed as a function of time

wherein said at least one parameter indicative of at least one of the availability and the reliability is expressed as a function of a parameter related to preventive maintenance; and

wherein the method further comprises;

(a) assuming an initial value for a variable indicative of an interval of preventive maintenance of said at least one apparatus;

(b) determining, by the processor, values of parameters indicative of at least one of the availability and the reliability of the apparatus based upon the initial value of the interval of preventive maintenance;

(c) performing, by the processor, the step of analysing the system model with respect to the predetermined criteria, and determining a preferred value for the preventative maintenance interval from that step;

(d) if the determined preferred value for the preventative maintenance interval is outside a predetermined range from the initial value of the preventative maintenance interval, repeating, by the processor, steps (b) to (d) using a new initial value for the preventive maintenance interval, until the determined preferred value is within a predetermined range of the initial value.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of analysing the system model with respect to the predetermined criteria comprises minimising or maximising, by the processor, a value of a predetermined function.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein parameters indicative of both the availability and the reliability are expressed as functions of time.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parameter indicative of the availability of the apparatus is expressed as a function of a time taken to perform preventive maintenance.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of analysing the system model with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system comprises determining, by the processor, a preferred value of preventive maintenance interval for at least some of the apparatuses in the preferred arrangement.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined criteria includes minimisation of a capital investment in manufacturing the arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system and an operation cost of the apparatuses within the processing system throughout an anticipated life of the preferred arrangement of apparatuses.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising analysing, by the processor, the predetermined criteria of a real apparatus to determine said parameters indicative of at least one of an availability and a reliability of the real apparatus.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter indicative of the reliability of an apparatus is expressed as a function of a time-dependent distribution.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a reliability R_sys(t) of an arrangement of apparatuses is expressed by a function

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a parameter indicative of the reliability of an arrangement of apparatus comprising at least two apparatuses is expressed as a function of a time-dependent distribution.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system model is one of a superstructure optimization or a stochastic optimization model.

12. A method as claimed claim 1, further comprising the step of manufacturing the determined preferred arrangement of apparatuses.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of performing preventive maintenance upon the manufactured arrangement of apparatuses in accordance with the determined preferred value of preventive maintenance interval.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computable readable instructions configured to cause a computer to carry out the method according claim 1.

15. A design for a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses, the design being determined by performing the method as claimed in claim 1.

16. A processing system including the preferred arrangement of apparatuses as determined using the method of claim 1.

17. A processing system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processing system is a chemical plant.

18. A method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses, the method being implemented in a computer comprising a memory in communication with a processor, comprising:

defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus;

analysing, by the processor, the system model with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system,

wherein at least one parameter relating to at least one of said apparatuses is indicative of at least one of an availability and reliability of an apparatus expressed as a function of time; and

wherein the availability A_a,sys of an arrangement of apparatuses is determined by

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the parameter T_PM,sys is a variable optimised within the analysing step.

20. A method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses, the method being implemented in a computer comprising a memory in communication with a processor, comprising:

defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus;

analysing, by the processor, the system model with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system,

wherein at least one parameter relating to at least one of said apparatuses is indicative of at least one of an availability and reliability of an apparatus expressed as a function of time;

wherein the availability A_a,sys of an arrangement of apparatuses is determined by

21. A method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses, the method being implemented in a computer comprising a memory in communication with a processor, comprising:

defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus;

analysing, by the processor, the system model with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system,

wherein at least one parameter relating to at least one of said apparatuses is indicative of at least one of an availability and reliability of an apparatus expressed as a function of time; and

wherein the availability of an arrangement of apparatuses comprising at least two apparatuses able to operate in i operational modes within the processing system is defined as the Process System Availability, PSA,

22. A computer-implemented method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses, the method being implemented in a computer comprising a memory in communication with a processor, comprising:

defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus;

analysing, by the processor, the system model with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system,

wherein at least one parameter relating to at least one of said apparatuses is indicative of at least one of an availability and reliability of an apparatus expressed as a function of time;

wherein said at least one parameter indicative of at least one of the availability and the reliability is expressed as a function of a parameter related to preventive maintenance; and

wherein at least one of availability and reliability functions are linearised functions.