Defeating the Sustainability Challenge in Batch Processes through Low-Cost Utilities Usage Reduction

A novel optimisation algorithm is proposed to simultaneously perform an online dynamic optimisation and control of batch processes while optimising the batch operation time as well. This new method is employed to reduce, in real-time, the environmental impact of discontinuous processes through a lower utility consumption, minimizing, at the same time, the consequences in terms of net income losses. Object- oriented programming and parallel computing are exploited to improve the algorithm efficiency. A simple but meaningful test case is used to prove the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.