Optimization of design and operating policy of an industrial two-bed co-shift reactor

The optimal operating policy for a two-bed adiabatic CO-converter is computed using the Discrete Maximum Principle. The problem is then extended to determine also the optimal design of the system. A sensitivity analysis of the optimal solutions is presented, showing the influence of the principal process parameters. Economical, chemical and physical data have been obtained from an existing CO-converter in a standard 1000 short Tons/day NH₃ plant.