A two-stage approach for the synthesis of inter-plant water networks involving continuous and batch units

This paper presents a mathematical optimization model for inter-plant water network (IPWN) synthesis, where process units operate in mixed continuous and batch modes. The current developed model consists of a two-stage approach, and is dedicated to the special case where there are more continuous than batch units. In the first stage, all batch units are treated as continuous units by using auxiliary water storage tanks, and a continuously operated IPWN is synthesized to minimize the fresh water consumption. Subject to the determined IPWN flow rates, the water storage policy for the batch units is determined in the second stage to minimize the total storage capacity. Alternatively, the formulations of both stages can be combined and solved simultaneously to minimize the IPWN cost. Two modified literature examples are used to illustrate the proposed approach. ? 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers.