Optimal design of single‐contaminant regeneration reuse water networks with process decomposition

Water network with regeneration schemes (e.g., regeneration reuse, regeneration recycling) can reduce freshwater consumption further than water network merely with direct reuse. Regeneration reuse, compared with regeneration recycling, can additionally avoid unexpected accumulation of contaminants. Owing to these features, process decomposition can help to reduce freshwater usage and wastewater discharge of regeneration reuse water systems and achieve the results, which graphical method delivers. In this article, the effect of decomposition on water‐using process and further on regeneration reuse water system is briefly analyzed on the concentration‐mass load diagram. Then a superstructure and three sequential mathematical models, which take process decomposition into account, are in turn developed to optimize single contaminant regeneration reuse water systems. By several examples, the reliability of the models is verified. Moreover, several decomposition strategies are summarized to realize the regeneration reuse water network, which attains the targets from graphical method. The results indicate that postregeneration concentration has a major impact on the scheme of process decomposition. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

On the use of graphical method to determine the targets of single-contaminant regeneration recycling water systems

Water system integration with regeneration recycling can reduce freshwater consumption and wastewater discharge to the maximum extent. In this paper, by analyzing the limiting composite curve of a single-contaminant water system, a method is proposed to construct the optimal water supply line for regeneration recycling. Accordingly the targets for regeneration recycling water systems are obtained. The targets in sequence are the minimum freshwater consumption (the minimum wastewater discharge), the minimum regenerated water flowrate, and the optimal regeneration concentration. The post-regeneration concentration is taken to be fixed in the sequential targeting procedure. The interactions of these targets are analyzed, and formulas for calculating these targets are proposed. The results show that for a single-contaminant regeneration recycling water system, the minimum freshwater consumption is determined by the shape of the limiting composite curve below the post-regeneration concentration. The optimal regeneration concentration is defined as the minimum regeneration concentration at the minimum freshwater consumption and the corresponding minimum regenerated water flowrate. The minimum regenerated water flowrate and the optimal regeneration concentration are both related to the geometrical features of the limiting composite curve of the water-using system and to the post-regeneration concentration. The optimal regeneration concentration has no direct relationship with the pinch concentration.     

A stepwise optimal design of water network☆

In order to take full advantage of regeneration process to reduce fresh water consumption and avoid the accumu-lation of trace contaminants, regeneration reuse and regeneration recycle should be distinctive. A stepwise opti-mal design for water network is developed to simplify solution procedures for the formulated MINLP problem. In this paper, a feasible water reuse network framework is generated. Some heuristic rules from water reuse net-work are used to guide the placement of regeneration process. Then the outlet stream of regeneration process is considered as new water source. Regeneration reuse network structure is obtained through an iterative optimal procedure by taking the insights from reuse water network structure. Furthermore, regeneration recycle is only utilized to eliminate fresh water usage for processes in which regeneration reuse is impossible. Compared with the results obtained by relevant researches for the same example, the present method not only provides an appro-priate regeneration reuse water network with minimum fresh water and regenerated water flow rate but also sug-gests a water network involving regeneration recycle with minimum recycle water flow rate. The design can utilize reuse, regeneration reuse and regeneration recycle step by step with minor water network structure change to achieve better flexibility. It can satisfy different demands for new plants and modernization of existing plants. ? 2016 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. Al rights reserved.     

具有中间水道的废水再生循环水网络的优化

考虑废水再生循环的水网络,可以最大限度地减少系统的新鲜水消耗和废水排放量,具有中间水道的水网络结构,可以有效地提高系统的柔性,本文建立了具有中间水道的废水再生循环水网络的超结构,提出了网络优化的数学模型。由于该最优网络涉及多参数的优化,本文采用了分步优化的策略,根据各参数的相对重要性,依次对新鲜水消耗量、再生水流率和再生负荷进行优化。计算实例表明,本文建立的方法是有效的。     

Process‐based graphical approach for simultaneous targeting and design of water network

A new process‐based graphical approach (PGA) is presented for the simultaneous targeting and design of water network. The PGA is extended from the limiting water profile which was developed for flow rate targeting for a water network. Via PGA procedure, apart from locating the minimum freshwater and wastewater flow rate targets, the water network that corresponds to the minimum flow rate targets is also synthesized simultaneously. The proposed approach handles both fixed load (including operations with water loss and/or gain) and fixed flow rate problems equally well. In addition, the approach can be used to synthesize direct reuse/recycle, regeneration reuse/recycling, and total water network. Furthermore, the proposed approach is applicable for water network with multiple freshwater sources. Three literature examples are presented to illustrate the proposed approach. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

含再生再利用的用水网络的优化设计

对单组分含再生再利用的用水系统,提出了一种基于序贯操作模型的整体优化设计方法。该方法分别针对单组分含再生再利用的用水网络设计可能存在的三种情况,以新鲜水和再生水用量最小为目标,给出了相应的设计策略,数学的表达是一个非线性规划。首先依据规则将操作对贫流的要求进行分段排序,并通过引入操作的质量交换分配系数αi,将各操作依据规则虚拟地分配为再生前过程和再生后过程,然后按操作序列逐级进行操作和操作水源之间的的优化匹配,建立含再生再利用的用水网络的序贯操作模型,最后将此综合问题归结为非线性规划问题来求解,从而完成用水过程的设计。给出了一个实例,计算结果表明本文方法是有效和简便易行的。     

采用迭代方法设计具有再生再利用/循环的单杂质用水系统

具有再生再利用/循环利用的水网络与只有再利用的水网络不同之处在于前者增加了再生水流。如能确定再生水流的浓度和流量并将之加到只考虑再利用的水网络中,即可构成具有再生再利用/循环利用的水网络。在上述思想基础上提出一种迭代法设计具有再生再利用/循环利用的水网络。该方法既可以解决给定移除率（removal ratio,RR）问题,又可以解决固定再生浓度问题。对RR问题,根据水网络及再生过程的特点估算出初始再生水流浓度,再生水流的量待定。将所得再生水流加到只考虑再利用的网络中构成具有再生过程的水网络。设计上述水网络,可以得出新的再生水流的量及浓度。当相邻两次再生浓度之差小于给定值时迭代结束。对RR问题,通常只需几次迭代即可得出最终设计;对于固定再生浓度问题,只需一次迭代即可得出最终设计。设计中考虑了影响水网络设计总费用的新鲜水用量、再生水用量和杂质再生负荷3个主要参数。对文献中几个实例的研究表明,本文方法得到的设计与文献中的设计相当,而设计步骤比文献中的简单。     

逐步线性规划法求解废水最小化问题

对用水过程的优化设计即废水最小化问题进行了研究 ,提出了操作水源和操作序列的概念 .分别对单组分再利用、多组分再利用及单组分再生再利用问题 ,提出了逐步线性规划的解算方法 .新方法首先依据规则将操作对贫流的要求进行分段排序 ,然后按操作序列逐级进行富流和贫流水源的优化匹配 ,最终完成用水过程的设计 .给出了 4个实例 ,计算结果表明本文方法是有效和简便易行的     

Wastewater minimization in multipurpose batch plants with a regeneration unit: Multiple contaminants

Wastewater minimization can be achieved by employing water reuse opportunities. This paper presents a methodology to address the problem of wastewater minimization by extending the concept of water reuse to include a wastewater regenerator. The regenerator purifies wastewater to such a quality that it can be reused in other operations. This further increases water reuse opportunities in the plant, thereby significantly reducing freshwater demand and effluent generation. The mathematical model determines the optimum batch production schedule that achieves the minimum wastewater generation within the same framework. The model was applied to two case studies involving multiple contaminants and wastewater reductions of 19.2% and 26% were achieved.     

水夹点分析与数学规划法相结合的用水网络优化设计

提出了水夹点分析和数学规划法相结合的用水网络最优设计法。水夹点分析基于对过程用水的理解,获得新鲜水用量目标并给出用水网络设计的基本规则。在此基础上建立过程使用新鲜水、排放废水和回用的各种可能匹配方案的用水网络超结构及其MINLP模型。既避免了用水夹点综合设计用水网络得不到真正意义上的最优解,又在一定程度上防止超结构规模过大,MINLP维数太高,求解困难。采用通用代数建模系统GAMS得到用水网络最优设计方案。文献中的应用实例表明,本文所提方法可充分发挥水夹点分析确定新鲜水用量或回用结构的简洁实用性和超结构MINLP寻求最佳方案的优点。     

再生循环水系统引入再生过程后夹点位置

引入再生循环的最优水系统可以最大限度地节约新鲜水的用量和减少废水的排放,是当前节水技术研究的重点。用水系统引入再生过程后,极限供水线会发生变化,从而水系统夹点个数以及位置都可能会发生变化。运用前人总结出的再生循环过程最佳供水线的构造方法,分析影响引入再生过程后夹点位置变化的因素,发现引入再生过程前后夹点位置的变化情况与以下因素有关：极限复合曲线上的凹点位置以及凹向极限供水线的程度和最高浓度用水单元水流率与新鲜水流率的关系,并分析得出夹点位置的变化规律,从而为用水网络的分析和设计提供理论性的指导。     

Economic optimization of the water reuse network in batch process industries

Water reuse has proved to be an efficient way to reduce freshwater demand and wastewater generation in process industries. In this paper, a methodology for minimizing the costs associated to water management in batch process industries is presented. This work is based on a previous methodology for freshwater demand minimization, which has been extended to the economical aspects of water management: cost associated to freshwater supply and conditioning, wastewater treatment and disposal, as well as water reuse network investment and operation costs. Water reuse network design is optimized from the economical point of view, minimizing the operation and investment costs associated to the water use.     

An iterative method for design of water‐using networks with regeneration recycling

Both freshwater consumption and wastewater discharge can be reduced significantly when wastewater regeneration recycling is introduced in the design of the water‐using networks (WUNs). However, it is often difficult to design the WUNs involving regeneration recycling. This article presents an iterative method to design the WUNs involving regeneration recycling. The final designs can be obtained without iteration for the networks with known regenerated concentrations, and in a few iterations for the networks with known removal ratios of the contaminants. The method proposed can reduce the following parameters simultaneously, the consumptions of freshwater and the regenerated water, and the concentrations of the stream before regeneration, and all of them reflect the cost of the network involving regeneration recycling. The results of a few literature examples show that the designs obtained in this work are comparable to that obtained in the literature. The proposed method is simple and effective. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

AquoMin: A software tool for Mass-Exchange Networks targeting and design

This study addresses the work developed at Process Integration Group of CPQ to build a software tool in the area of Pollution Prevention, regarding the Mass-Exchange Networks (MEN) targeting and design.Given a set of mass transfer operations and their limiting data, AquoMin can analyse different options to reduce fresh water consumption and minimise wastewater production. The available strategies to optimise these targets are (i) process without waste water reutilisation, (ii) process with waste reutilisation, and (iii) process with waste regeneration reuse. These options are analysed in two stages: first the targeting and then the design. The former stage uses algorithms based on pinch analysis to obtain the minimum consumption of external water and also the minimum wastewater production. These targets are then used in the second stage, the MEN design.The regeneration reuse strategy needs an extra step in the MEN design stage, which uses pinch analysis concepts to generate a mass balance model to obtain a set of optimal design parameters, the Split Operation Parameters (SOP). Furthermore, work on regeneration with recycle and reuse has been also developed. It was created a general algorithm to obtain the targets for this strategy: the external water source flowrate and the regeneration and recycle flowrate.A small AquoMin tutorial is presented using an Example Problem. The regeneration reuse strategy is focused and the methodology employed in both targeting and design stages were improved. Different scenarios evaluating the MEN structure's complexity and equipment cost were also developed and compared in the regeneration reuse strategy. In the regeneration recycle and reuse strategy, the Example Problem was used to emphasise a new option for the regeneration concentration value and the results of all the strategies are compared.Finally, a five operations’ Case Study was solved to obtain the targets and designs to accomplish the three Process Integration Strategies with a final reduction of 60% in the fresh water consumption.     

THE USE OF NONLINEAR PROGRAMMING TO OPTIMAL WATER ALLOCATION

Environmental protection, shortage of fresh-water and rising costs for wastewater treatment are all convincing motives for reducing fresh-water consumption and wastewater discharge of the chemical, petrochemical, petroleum refining and other process industries. Maximizing water reuse, regeneration re-use, and regeneration recycling within the chemical plant, as well as optimal distribution of waste streams for end-of-pipe treatment can reduce fresh-water usage and wastewater discharge, while they are also significant in shrinking capital investment in wastewater treatment systems.

Optimal assignment and design of water consuming, regenerating, and treatment systems is a complicated task that can be mathematically formulated as mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP). In the present article the superstructure based 'Cover and Eliminate' approach with NLP is applied with the tools of the GAMS/M1NOS/CONOPT package and compared to previous results. After introducing the problem in the context of chemical process synthesis, a mathematical model is described and the use of the methodology is explained. Experience with the use of GAMS is discussed. Several case studies are solved including basic examples from the literature and their variants.

The main conclusion is that the application of the mathematical programming for the optimal water allocation problem is essential owing to the broad variety of the specification opportunities. The complex nature of re-use, regeneration re-use, and recycling with multiple pollutants and multiple treatment processes cannot be simultaneously taken into account by conceptual approaches. It is also shown that the assumption on the independency of contamination rates, generally applied in earlier works, are not necessarily valid; and the NLP approach can deal with the more reliable specifications.     

分阶段线性规划法快速设计含有多种污染物的用水网络

针对含有多种污染物用水网络的设计问题,提出了一种新方法.该方法先基于各个用水过程的污染物最大出口浓度对过程排序,然后采用GAMS(general algebraic modeling system)语言建立线性规划模型,依次对序列中的每个过程的废水回用方案进行优化计算,以确定出其最小新鲜水用量和来自前驱的废水回用量.该方法虽然不能保证所得解的全局最优性,但它能快速地找到最优或近似最优解,而且方法简单.     

Simultaneous synthesis of heat-integrated water networks by a nonlinear program: Considering the wastewater regeneration reuse

Heat-integrated water network synthesis (HIWNS) has received considerable attention for the advantages of reducing water and energy consumptions. HIWNS is effective in water and energy sustainability. Mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) is usually applied in HIWNS. In this work, a novel nonlinear programming (NLP) was proposed for HIWNS by considering wastewater reuse and wastewater regeneration reuse. Integer variables are changed to non-linear equation by the methods for identifying stream roles and denoting the existence of process matches. The model is tested by examples with single and multiple regeneration unit problems. The testing results showed that the NLP is an alternative method for HIWNS with wastewater reuse and regeneration reuse.     

Polymeric Nanocomposites (PNCs) for Wastewater Remediation: An Overview

A decline in the world’s freshwater resources poses a major domestic and industrial challenge. Amelioration efforts that proffer possible water management and reclamation technology is therefore, of utmost priority. One of the most promising solutions to water conservation is to recycle wastewater. The use of polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) in water treatment/remediation processes provides possible solution to recycling. This overview focused on PNCs; to highlight trends in their fabrication, characterization and application procedures for wastewater remediation and monitoring. Key issues bothering on the regeneration and reuse of PNCs were discussed, along with projections for their rational design for safe application.     

含再生再利用的用水系统的最小新鲜水和相应的再生水用量的确定

A sequential three-step programming method is proposed for determining the minimum flowrate of fresh water and corresponding regenerated water in water-using system of single contaminant with regeneration reuse.In step 1, a programming with the objective of min fws is used to determine the minimum flowrate of fresh water,in which the mathematical representation is a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP1). Then under the same constraints with step 1, a programming with the objective of min freg in step 2 and a programming with the objective of rain Cr in step 3 are subsequently used to determine the minimum flowrate of regenerated water and the minimum inlet concentration to regeneration process corresponding to the minimum flowrate of fresh water based on step 1. The method is easy to apply because we only need to change the objective function but keep the constraints constant to go along the following steps after step 1. In addition, the relationship between the fresh water flowrate required, fws, and inlet concentration to regeneration process, Cr, is investigated. It is found that there exist three relationships between fws and Cr, which indicate three possibilities for Cb: below the pinch, above the pinch or at the pinch. Therefore, a new conclusion is drawn, which differs from that “regeneration of water at pinch minimizes fresh water flowrate“ derived in literature and indicates that in some cases, regeneration at other point also minimizes fresh water flowrate.     

基于杂质赤字的再生回用水网络集成图示法

将氢网络中基于剩余率的集成优化法扩展至水网络，以杂质浓度为基础进行分析，提出了基于杂质赤字的再生回用水网络图像集成优化方法。该方法无需图像试差和迭代，通过构建浓度-流量图和杂质赤字图，可确定未考虑再生回用的水网络夹点位置及最小新鲜水用量。并在此基础上，考虑再生装置和水网络的优化以及二者的集成，分析水网络的新鲜水节省量与杂质脱除率、再生水源流量及再生废水浓度的定量关系；构建定量关系图确定最小新鲜水用量随各参数的变化关系、夹点位置、最大新鲜水节省量以及一定再生条件下的极限及最优提纯参数。案例分析表明，该方法简单、高效，对于各工况下的水网络，均可使新鲜水消耗量及废水排放量减小，为工艺设计和操作提供重要的参考。