CTS - 9530651 Christodoulos Floudas Princeton University ABSTRACT The project deals with the analysis, design and synthesis of non-ideal separation systems. Global optimization techniques based on the minimization of Gibbs free energy and the tangent plane stability criterion will be used. The stability criterion will be applied to systems with many components and chemical reactions. Objectives include determination of azeotropes for both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, and evaluation of the effects of different fugacity models and equations of state on phase equilibria. Parameter uncertainty will be incorporated into the design. Also, azeotropic distillation systems will be analyzed by combining residue curve maps with optimization methods. The results may lead to improved separation techniques for manufacturing chemicals.
