Multi-objective optimization methodology to size cogeneration systems for managing flares from uncertain sources during abnormal process operations

Flaring is common practice in industries to reduce the risk during abnormal situations, to maintain the product quality or to operate safely during process start up and shut down. Due to its large negative impacts on the environment and society, various protocol and steps, i.e., Kyoto protocol, the United Nations Environment Programme, have been created for future mitigation. There is significant amount of heating value lost during flaring events. A cogeneration (COGEN) system can use waste flare streams as fuel to generate heat and power within a process. The objective of this work is to develop an optimization framework for sizing a COGEN unit to manage flares from uncertain sources by minimizing the overall cost and emissions of greenhouse gases. Multi-objective trade-offs between the economic, environmental, and energetic aspects are presented through Pareto fronts for a base case ethylene plant using a stochastic optimization technique based on genetic algorithm.