Guest Lecture

Fraunhofer ITWM Fellow 

Science thrives on the exchange of ideas, not only with colleagues on site. Impulses from outside are just as important. This is why the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM has established a Fellows Programme: Prominent guest scientists come to the institute for a maximum of six months and work on a topic together with our researchers. Lorenz T. Biegler is one of our Fraunhofer ITWM Fellows.

Abstract – Advanced Optimization Strategies for Integrated Process Design and Operations

Optimisation strategies are essential at all levels of decision making in chemical and energy processes, including process development, process synthesis and design, and finally process operation, control, scheduling and planning. Challenges include formulating well-set and well-conditioned models, developing and applying efficient, reliable optimisation algorithms, and post-optimisation analysis to interpret solutions and evaluate robustness to model and external uncertainties.

In this lecture, we will synthesise optimisation concepts and algorithms that enable large-scale nonlinear programming, non-intrusive decomposition strategies and incorporate reduced-order models. Thus, challenging non-convex, multi-scale process problems can be solved. These elements are demonstrated using systematic strategies for the optimal design of energy management systems, demand-side optimisation for speciality chemicals and integrated optimisation for polymer processes.