Engineering >> Industrial & Management SystemsOptimization of an Extraction Trainby Katrina Stine
Submitted : Fall 2011 The goal of this project is to find the optimum number of extraction stages, n, and extraction solvent flow rates, F, in a chemical extraction process. It is also necessary to find the stage volume, V, which is assumed the same for each stage, that will minimize the total annual cost of the extraction train. By manipulating the given equations and isolating one variable, F, through methods of logarithms, derivatives, and substitutions the minimum value for F can be determined. Once F is found, n and V can also be determined through substitution. After all the calculations, it was discovered that the optimum flow rate to yield a minimum total annual cost is F = 33.0494 L/hr and the amount of stages needed in the extraction train is n = 5. Therefore, the stage volume for each stage will be V = 66.5247 L. These values come together and an extraction train can be made with a minimum total annual cost as it operates 4000 hours per year, that will reduce the amount of impurities of the solvent by X0/Xn = 10. Related Links:
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