This research presents a novel framework for the surrogate-based dynamic optimization of control schemes within chemical separation and purification processes such as the biorefinery downstream processing. The current study investigated the downstream of an enzymatic bioreactor responsible for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural value-added derivatives, focusing on the critical balance between operational costs and productivity. Two high-fidelity long short-term memory neural network-based surrogate models were developed to predict energy consumption and economic gain, both achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) exceeding 0.97. These models were subsequently integrated into a multi-objective optimization architecture to address an operating efficiency testing scenario characterized by stepwise inflow parameter changes. By exploring the resulting Pareto front, an optimal set of operational (control) settings was identified and validated. The results demonstrate that while en... [more]

This work demonstrates the application of a pulsed microwave system for single-step co-production of ethylene and ammonia from methane. To mitigate inherent production fluctuations from pulsed microwave reactors, a staggered manifold configuration was utilized to stabilize effluent flow for industrial-scale compatibility. Dynamic validation of the ammonia and ethylene purification columns confirmed that a rigorously tuned control strategy effectively rejects ±10% feed disturbances while maintaining process stability and product purity. Ultimately, this systematic approach establishes a robust foundation for the sustainable, electrified production of foundational chemicals by bridging the gap between laboratory-scale pulsing phenomena and industrial-scale operational reliability.

This study investigates control strategies for the flexible operation of heat pump-assisted distillation processes, focusing on the heat integrated distillation column configuration. The methanol/water separation system was selected as a case study and modelled to achieve 99.9 wt% AA-grade methanol purity. A limiting piece of equipment for flexible operation of heat pump assisted distillation is the compressor. To assess its impact on flexible operation, dynamic simulations in Aspen Dynamics were conducted for two heat integrated distillation column control strategies: one using fixed compressor duty and one using variable compressor duty. The control performance for a 20% throughput disturbance, as well as for a 50% turndown ratio scenario was investigated. Results show that fixed-duty operation maintains robust stability and rapid disturbance recovery even at 50% turndown, while variable-duty operation delivers higher efficiency for moderate load changes but cannot sustain low-load s... [more]