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Description:
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The process industries are characterized by the enormous use of natural resources
such as raw materials , solvents , water , and utilities . Additionally , significant amounts of
wastes are discharged from industrial facilities . As the world moves toward sustainable
progress , that is , meeting the demand of the current generation without affecting or
compromising the new generation , future process facilities must focus on resource
conservation and pollution prevention . The purpose of this work is to introduce a new
process integration methodology for the conservation and optimization of resources in
the process industries . The work is also geared towards reducing waste discharge from
the processing facilities . The optimal management of fresh resources and waste disposal
requires the appropriate allocation , generation , and separation of streams and species .
Material recycle /reuse /substitution , reaction alteration , and process modification are
some of the main strategies employed to conserve resources in the process industries .
The overall problem addressed in this dissertation can be stated as follows : Given
is a process with a number of streams (sources ) that are characterized by certain criteria
(e .g . , compositions of certain compounds , targeted properties ) where these streams can
be utilized in a number of process units (sinks ) if they satisfy given constraints on flow
rate , compositions , and /or properties . Additionally , interception devices may be used to
adjust stream criteria . The objective is to develop targeting procedures and synthesis
tools for the identification of minimum usage of fresh resources , minimum discharge of
waste , and maximum integration of process resources . The devised methodology
addresses four classes of problems :
 Targeting techniques using direct recycle strategies
 Recycle and interception procedures for single -component systems
 Recycle and interception procedures for multi -component systems
 Property integration for direct recycle strategies
The framework provided by this dissertation couples traditional mass integration
with groundbreaking property integration techniques to target , synthesize and optimize a
plant for maximal conservation of resources . In particular , this work introduces new
techniques such as material recycle pinch analysis , simultaneous recycle and interception
networks , and property -based allocation . Additionally , graphical , algebraic , and
optimization approaches are developed and validated with case studies in order to
illustrate the applicability of the devised procedures . |