Optimal steady-state design of reactive distillation processes using simulated annealing

In this paper, we investigate on a derivative-free optimization approach, simulated annealing (SA), for the optimization of the reactive distillation (RD) column design. Because RD systems exhibit non-monotonic behavior for key design variables, flowsheet optimization using simulator is difficult when derivative-based approach is employed. The SA-based optimization procedure gives an equally good or better design than the optimal flowsheet obtained from the sequential design approach. More importantly, this is achieved with much more efficient computing.