Parameterisation of a biodiesel plant process flow sheet model. (5th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sikorski, Janusz J.; Brownbridge, George; Garud, Sushant S.; Mosbach, Sebastian; Karimi, Iftekar A.; Kraft, Markus
• Is Part Of: Computers & chemical engineering. Volume 95(2016)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2016-12-05
• Subjects: Process flow sheet model -- Parameterisation -- Biodiesel -- Sensitivity analysis; Chemical engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 660.0285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2016.06.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0098-1354

Abstract

Abstract : Highlights: A process flow sheet of a biodiesel plant is described with two types of surrogate models: polynomial and high-dimensional model representation (HDMR). Third order polynomial and HDMR surrogates achieve best and similar degree of accuracy. Polynomials of order higher than 3 suffer from overfitting, especially in high-dimensional scenarios. Global sensitivity analysis indicates that interaction terms have negligible effect on heat duties of the biodiesel plant. Abstract: This paper presents results of parameterisation of typical input–output relations within process flow sheet of a biodiesel plant and assesses parameterisation accuracy. A variety of scenarios were considered: 1, 2, 6 and 11 input variables (such as feed flow rate or a heater's operating temperature) were changed simultaneously, 3 domain sizes of the input variables were considered and 2 different surrogates (polynomial and high dimensional model representation (HDMR) fitting) were used. All considered outputs were heat duties of equipment within the plant. All surrogate models achieved at least a reasonable fit regardless of the domain size and number of dimensions. Global sensitivity analysis with respect to 11 inputs indicated that only 4 or fewer inputs had significant influence on any one output. Interaction terms showed only minor effects in all of the cases.