Optimization of an Agitated Extractor

by Haley Beutler

Submitted : Fall 2012

The goal of this project was to optimize a chemical extraction process. This means that I was trying to determine the lowest cost of production correlated with the greatest output of product A. In order to do so, I had to create an equation that incorporated both the n, number of times the process occurs, and P, power, variables in terms of the other variables provided in the problem. I called this equation the “Total Annual Cost” equation. I then utilized this equation to find the minimum values of the graph of the derivative of the function. I analyzed these minimum values, and keeping the goal of optimization of the variables V, P, and n in mind, I was able to interpret the minimum values that produce the most ideal yield.

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