Process optimization 2

[Dimmethylamine]

Hello guys,

I would like to ask you about "process optimization", a topic that I want to learn, from the basics, as it turned to be an important asset in the field of chemical engineering, so, please:

what is the mathematical background I need to have ?

can you recommend me some textbooks that enable me have an over view on optimization methods and the application of each method ?

what is the best software for programming optimization algorithms ? python or matlab ?

This is prbably a huge issue, I am feeling like lost, and thanks in advance friends.

 

[rense]

yes, you should be more specific,
however I have utilized Matlab in union with a thermodynamic library (Prode Properties) for simple problems, Matlab includes good minimizers but you need to compile in order to get reasonably fast executions.
Another possibility is that you compile and link with a specific package (see NEOS guide for a list).
You may read Numerical optimization by Nocedal & Wright for a good introduction...

 

[Dimmethylamine]

Thank you very much, rense !
please, what is the mathematical background needed here ? especially with evolutionary algorithms ?
I also wonder if you can tell me what do you mean by compiling ?
thank you very much again.

 

[georgeverghese]

In mu Uni days, we used the textbook "Process Optimization" in the 4th year written by the Dept HOD - GSG Beveridge, which has a good account on how to apply various search algorithms.
There is a very brief account on this dense topic in Perry Chem Engg Handbook also, but not easy to follow.

 

[Dimmethylamine]

thnx george, I'll have a look on it