On Quantification of the Attainable Region for Separator Networks with Varying Network Outlet Flowrates

In this work the process network attainable region (AR) concept is explored for separator networks in which the network outlet flow rates are allowed to vary. For separator unit models to which the IDEAS conceptual framework is applicable, it is shown that identification of AR boundary membership is equivalent to feasibility assessment of an infinite linear program (ILP). A number of important AR properties are then theoretically established, including AR convexity for fixed network inlet flowrate ratios, and representation of the AR in a process network outlet state space of reduced dimension. Finite dimensional approximations of the aforementioned ILP are then employed in creating increasingly accurate representations of the variable-flow-rate separator AR. A case study involving construction of the AR for the vapor-liquid equilibrium based separation of a ternary azeotropic mixture will be presented.