Algorithmic Methodology for Inherently Safe Plant Design

Abstract

Inherently safe design principles impose risk assessment from early stages of design. The consideration of risk is commonly made in the last design stage and is carried out independently of the layout optimization, even though there is a close relationship between both. In this work, this problem is addressed proposing models (Mixed Integer Linear Programming, ‘MILP’) to optimize the general plant layout and to introduce a possible strategy to the synthesis of combustibles tank farm.

A hierarchical and sequential strategy is used for the consideration of a large number of process units considering the current limitations of deterministic methods for this purpose.

The procedure was applied to a particular case of study, the optimization of a biodiesel plant layout, including the rigorous optimization of the methanol tank farm.