Theory and Solution Methods for Chemical Production Scheduling

主要研究者：Maravelias，Christians机构：威斯康星大学提案编号：1066206题目：化学品生产安全的理论和解决方法为了在当今的全球环境中保持竞争力，美国化学公司已经转向产品定制和多样化，这反过来又导致了大量的小批量，高价值的产品。此外，为了实现更高的资源利用率，化学品制造商已经开始使用多产品/多用途设施。除了更高的资源利用率外，这些设施的灵活性还可以降低库存成本，更好地应对需求波动。然而，这些优点可以实现，只有有效的优化为基础的生产调度方法，可以发掘隐藏的潜力，多产品制造，开发。这种方法的开发和采用的两个主要瓶颈似乎是：a）缺乏明确的问题陈述，这阻碍了统一的信息技术框架的开发;和B）现有的基于优化的方法的计算性能。本研究的目标是发展新的理论和解决方案的方法，将解决第二个challenge.Intellectual优点的智力优点是在现有的框架分析，底层的优化理论的发展，并制定先进的解决方案的战略化工生产调度。本项目将集中在以下五个方面：a）方法分类制定一般调度方法和建模技术的系统分类。B）计算研究使用5,000多个问题实例对各种方法进行广泛的计算研究。c）理论发展发展了关于调度混合整数规划公式的紧密性的数学性质。d）新颖建模方法使用调度模型的固有结构和我们的理论结果来探索加强这些公式的方法。e）基于计算和理论结果的解决方案算法，研究新的分解方案，探索新的搜索方法和设计算法，以利用并行计算和网络基础设施提供的新功能。更广泛的影响这项研究将推动在过程操作中使用优化方法，从而开辟了过程系统工程（PSE）研究的新途径。通过研究生参与这个项目的工作，结果将用于开发PI教授的研究生课程的教育材料。此外，还将评估这些材料的有效性，并通过工程途径和国家科学数字图书馆传播。在这个项目期间开发的代码和问题库都将公开提供，以便该领域的其他人可以复制（或改进）结果。该项目还将为PI提供进一步发展其本科研究计划的机会。具体而言，本科生将使用一些网络基础设施的工具，在这方面的努力，开展计算studies.Potentially变革researchThis研究是一个重大的背离以前的工作在这方面，它将是基于一个理论研究的结构的混合整数规划配方和数学性质的推导其多面体属性。这是一个在PSE文献中几乎没有注意到这一点的主题。因此，如果成功的话，这项研究将为一种新的、理论上严格的生产调度方法奠定基础，这可能会在解决广泛的运营问题方面取得重大进展。

PI: Maravelias, Christos Institution: University of WisconsinProposal Number: 1066206Title: Theory and Solution Methods for Chemical Production SchedulingTo remain competitive in todays global environment, US chemical companies have moved towards product customization and diversification, which in turn have resulted in a large number of low-volume, high-value products. Furthermore, in an effort to achieve higher utilization of resources, chemical manufacturers have started to employ multiproduct/multipurpose facilities. In addition to higher resource utilization, the flexibility of these facilities allows for lower inventory costs and better responsiveness to demand fluctuations. However, these advantages can be achieved only if effective optimization-based production scheduling methodologies, which could uncork the hidden potential of multiproduct manufacturing, are developed. The two major bottlenecks in the development and adoption of such methods appear to be: a) the lack of an unambiguous problem statement, which prohibits the development of a unified information technology framework; and b) the computational performance of existing optimization-based methods. The goal of this research is the development of new theory and solution methods that will address the second challenge.Intellectual Merit The intellectual merit is in the analysis of existing frameworks, the development of the underlying optimization theory, and the formulation of advanced solution strategies for chemical production scheduling. This project will focus on the following five areas:a) Method classification formulate a systematic classification of general scheduling approaches and modeling techniques.b) Computational study perform an extensive computational study of various approaches using more than 5,000 problem instances. c) Theory development develop mathematical properties regarding the tightness of scheduling mixed-integer programming formulations.d) Novel Modeling Methods use the inherent structure of scheduling models and our theoretical results to explore ways of strengthening these formulations.e) Solution algorithms based on the computational and theoretical results, study new decomposition schemes and explore new search methods and design algorithms that harness the new capabilities offered by parallel computing and cyberinfrastructure.Broader ImpactThis research will advance the state of the art in the use of optimization methodologies in process operations, thereby opening new avenues of research in process systems engineering (PSE). Through the involvement of the graduate student working on this project, the results of will be used to develop educational material for a graduate level course the PI teaches. Furthermore, this material will be evaluated for effectiveness and disseminated through the Engineering Pathway and the National Science Digital Library. Both the codes and the library of problems developed during this project will be made publicly available so that others in the field can replicate (or improve upon) the results. This project will also offer the PI an opportunity to further develop his undergraduate research program. Specifically, undergraduate students will use some of the cyber-infrastructure tools developed in this effort to carry out computational studies.Potentially Transformative ResearchThis research is a major departure from previous work in this area in that it will be based upon a theoretical study of the structure of mixed-integer programming formulations and the derivation of mathematical properties on their polyhedral properties. This is a subject that has received practically no attention to this point in the PSE literature. Therefore, if successful, the research will lay the foundations of a new, theoretically rigorous approach to production scheduling, which could lead to significant advances in solving broad families of operational problems.