Repositori URV

Identifier: TDX:1603

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX1603

Authors:
Rodríguez Martínez, Antonio

Abstract:
Industrial processes require periodic evaluations to verify their normal operation, as much in economical as in technical terms. These evaluations are necessary due to changes in markets, safety and environmental legislation. It is necessary to satisfy these demands in order to investigate process alternatives that allow the optimal use of existing resources with the possible minimum investment. One way to make this task is by means of retrofit.The objective of this work is to develop a methodology for retrofit of chemical processes based on hierarchical representations. The concepts involved in the methodology are,- The application in inverse manner of hierarchical procedure for conceptual design of Douglas [Douglas, 1988]- The representation of processes by means of generic block diagrams from Turton [Turton et al., 1998].- The structure of knowledge based systems (knowledge base, inference machine and user interface) [Han et al., 1996].The proposed methodology has learning from retrofit, design, synthesis and analysis of processes, so that it was managed to design and implement support tools for retrofit of processes. Knowledge from computer science area in addition to knowledge from chemical engineering were applied in order to develop a knowledge-based system by using computational algorithms from communication, visualization and artificial intelligence techniques.The methodology consists of four general steps,1. Data extraction. Information of chemical process is extracted from an initial representation.2. Analysis and representation of information. Extracted information is abstracted at several levels based on a set of hierarchical functions, precedence rules and user information.3. Generation of alternatives. The alternatives are generated based on the new speci