Process Optimization for Multiple Objectives: Principles, Applications and Programs

Background: Optimization of processes for single objective is well established with numerous applications in both academia and industrial practice, and several programs are readily available for process optimization. On the other hand, optimization applications often have more than one objective, which requires multi-objective optimization (MOO). Over the last two decades, there has been significant progress in MOO and its applications. Currently, process optimization studies in academia are often for two or more objectives. After the formulation of process optimization problem, MOO consists of two main steps: (a) generation of Pareto-optimal (non-dominated) solutions using a suitable numerical technique, and (b) selection of one of the Pareto-optimal solutions (referred to as multi-criteria decision analysis/making).

Objective and Outline: The aim of this short course is to present MOO principles, chemical engineering applications and programs for optimizing processes for multiple objectives. It will cover the following: (a) MOO, its results and benefits, (b) principles of selected techniques for solving MOO problems, (c) review of chemical engineering applications, (d) outline of a few selected applications, (e) readily available programs for MOO, and (f) use of MS Excel based programs for solving MOO problems. Two Excel programs for MOO will be provided to all participants for their use after the short course.          

Learning Outcomes: After attending this short course, participants should be able to:

• Describe MOO, its results and its benefits
• Outline principles of common techniques for solving MOO problems
• Discuss selection of one of the Pareto-optimal solutions
• Use MS Excel programs for solving MOO problems

Date: 29 October 2019 (Tuesday)

Time: 9.00 AM - 1.00 PM.

Venue: Block V, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya.

Fee: RM 250 for local participants and USD75 for international participants. 

Course Leader:                                                                           

Prof. G.P. Rangaiah has been with the National University of Singapore (NUS) since 1982, in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular  Engineering. He received his Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral degrees in chemical engineering, from Andhra University, IIT Kanpur and Monash University, respectively. Prior to his Doctoral study, he worked in Engineers India Limited for two years. Prof. Rangaiah received many teaching awards including the Annual Teaching Excellence Awards from NUS. He supervised ~ 50 graduate theses and published ~ 200 journal papers on modeling, optimization and control of chemical and related processes. Prof. Rangaiah edited 6 books on process optimization and control. In particular, he actively pursued multi-objective optimization and its applications in the last two decades. Prof. Rangaiah edited the first book on multi-objective optimization in chemical engineering published in 2009, and also its second edition published in 2017.