Incorporating scheduling in the optimal design of multiproduct batch plants

Abstract: "Anticipating the impact of scheduling at the design stage can result in significant savings in the capital cost of multiproduct batch plants. In this paper this idea is applied to multiproduct batch plants with one unit per processing stage. Efficient scheduling models are developed for minimization of cycle time for Unlimited Intermediate Storage and Zero Wait policies in mixed product campaigns. Based on these models, it is shown that simplified constraints that account for these scheduling policies can be incorporated in the optimal design problem. Numerical examples are presented for both scheduling and design problems."