LAPSE:2025.0408
Published Article

LAPSE:2025.0408
Global Robust Optimisation for Non-Convex Quadratic Programs: Application to Pooling Problems
June 27, 2025
Abstract
Robust optimisation is a powerful approach for addressing uncertainty ensuring constraint satisfaction for all uncertain parameter realisations. While convex robust optimisation problems are effectively tackled using robust reformulations and cutting plane methods, extending these techniques to non-convex problems remains largely unexplored. In this work we propose a method that is based on a parallel robustness and optimality search. We introduce a novel spatial Branch-and-Bound algorithm integrated with robust cutting-planes for solving non-convex robust optimisation problems. The algorithm systematically incorporates global and robust optimisation techniques, leveraging McCormick relaxations. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on benchmark pooling problems with uncertain feed quality, demonstrating algorithm stability and solution robustness. The computational time for the examined case studies is within the same order of magnitude as state-of-the-art. The findings of this work highlight the potential of the proposed algorithm in tackling quadratic non-convex robust optimisation problems, particularly in chemical engineering applications.
Robust optimisation is a powerful approach for addressing uncertainty ensuring constraint satisfaction for all uncertain parameter realisations. While convex robust optimisation problems are effectively tackled using robust reformulations and cutting plane methods, extending these techniques to non-convex problems remains largely unexplored. In this work we propose a method that is based on a parallel robustness and optimality search. We introduce a novel spatial Branch-and-Bound algorithm integrated with robust cutting-planes for solving non-convex robust optimisation problems. The algorithm systematically incorporates global and robust optimisation techniques, leveraging McCormick relaxations. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on benchmark pooling problems with uncertain feed quality, demonstrating algorithm stability and solution robustness. The computational time for the examined case studies is within the same order of magnitude as state-of-the-art. The findings of this work highlight the potential of the proposed algorithm in tackling quadratic non-convex robust optimisation problems, particularly in chemical engineering applications.
Record ID
Keywords
Algorithms, Global Optimisation, Pooling Problem, Pyomo, Robust Optimisation, spatial Branch-and-Bound
Subject
Suggested Citation
Marousi A, Charitopoulos VM. Global Robust Optimisation for Non-Convex Quadratic Programs: Application to Pooling Problems. Systems and Control Transactions 4:1592-1597 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.168949
Author Affiliations
Marousi A: Department of Chemical Engineering, The Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, University College London, London, UK
Charitopoulos VM: Department of Chemical Engineering, The Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, University College London, London, UK
Charitopoulos VM: Department of Chemical Engineering, The Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, University College London, London, UK
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
1592
Last Page
1597
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 1592-1597-1683-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2025.0408
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https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.168949
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[v1] (Original Submission)
Jun 27, 2025
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References Cited
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