Design of robust water exchange networks for eco-industrial symbiosis

The field of industrial ecology promotes the establishment of resource exchange networks in eco-industrial parks (EIPs) as an approach toward resource conservation. Previous studies have shown that full blown resource integration can be encouraged through the exchange of common utilities such as energy and water. Different approaches such as mathematical programming, pinch analysis and game theory have been used to identify the optimal network designs, which can simultaneously reduce the utilization of freshwater resources and the generation of wastewater streams. Since water exchange in an EIP involves multiple independently operating plants, information exchange between the participants is not completely transparent and multiple future scenarios are expected to happen as the fate and plans of other participants are not completely divulged. These future scenarios may bring about changes in the capacity or characteristic of industrial processes and may also involve the entry of additional companies and the closure of previously operating ones. Such aspects have not been fully addressed in previous studies. A robust optimization model is thus developed in this work to determine the optimal network design which can effectively operate in anticipation of multiple probable scenarios. Case studies are solved to demonstrate the capability of the model.

► A mathematical model for identifying a robust exchange network has been developed in this work.
► The model addresses the problem on multiple future scenarios which can possibly occur when building exchange networks in an eco-industrial park.
► Optimal network designs are identified even with limited information.
► Risks accompany network designs which may improve the over-all objective of the eco-industrial park.