Ignacio E. Grossmann – författare

Mathematical Programming has been of significant interest and relevance in engineering, an area that is very rich in challenging optimization problems. In particular, many design and operational problems give rise to nonlinear and mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems whose modeling and solu­ tion is often nontrivial. Furthermore, with the increased computational power and development of advanced analysis (e. g. , process simulators, finite element packages) and modeling systems (e. g. , GAMS, AMPL, SPEEDUP, ASCEND, gPROMS), the size and complexity of engineering optimization models is rapidly increasing. While the application of efficient local solvers (nonlinear program­ ming algorithms) has become widespread, a major limitation is that there is often no guarantee that the solutions that are generated correspond to global optima. In some cases finding a local solution might be adequate, but in others it might mean incurring a significant cost penalty, or even worse, getting an incorrect solution to a physical problem. Thus, the need for finding global optima in engineering is a very real one. It is the purpose of this monograph to present recent developments of tech­ niques and applications of deterministic approaches to global optimization in engineering. The present monograph is heavily represented by chemical engi­ neers; and to a large extent this is no accident. The reason is that mathematical programming is an active and vibrant area of research in chemical engineering. This trend has existed for about 15 years.

Based on the author's forty years of teaching experience, this unique textbook covers both basic and advanced concepts of optimization theory and methods for process systems engineers. Topics covered include continuous, discrete and logic optimization (linear, nonlinear, mixed-integer and generalized disjunctive programming), optimization under uncertainty (stochastic programming and flexibility analysis), and decomposition techniques (Lagrangean and Benders decomposition). Assuming only a basic background in calculus and linear algebra, it enables easy understanding of mathematical reasoning, and numerous examples throughout illustrate key concepts and algorithms. End-of-chapter exercises involving theoretical derivations and small numerical problems, as well as in modeling systems like GAMS, enhance understanding and help put knowledge into practice. Accompanied by two appendices containing web links to modeling systems and models related to applications in PSE, this is an essential text for single-semester, graduate courses in process systems engineering in departments of chemical engineering.

Based on the author''s forty years of teaching experience, this unique textbook covers both basic and advanced concepts of optimization theory and methods for process systems engineers. Topics covered include continuous, discrete and logic optimization (linear, nonlinear, mixed-integer and generalized disjunctive programming), optimization under uncertainty (stochastic programming and flexibility analysis), and decomposition techniques (Lagrangean and Benders decomposition). Assuming only a basic background in calculus and linear algebra, it enables easy understanding of mathematical reasoning, and numerous examples throughout illustrate key concepts and algorithms. End-of-chapter exercises involving theoretical derivations and small numerical problems, as well as in modeling systems like GAMS, enhance understanding and help put knowledge into practice. Accompanied by two appendices containing web links to modeling systems and models related to applications in PSE, this is an essential text for single-semester, graduate courses in process systems engineering in departments of chemical engineering.

Mathematical Programming has been of significant interest and relevance in engineering, an area that is very rich in challenging optimization problems. In particular, many design and operational problems give rise to nonlinear and mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems whose modeling and solu­ tion is often nontrivial. Furthermore, with the increased computational power and development of advanced analysis (e. g. , process simulators, finite element packages) and modeling systems (e. g. , GAMS, AMPL, SPEEDUP, ASCEND, gPROMS), the size and complexity of engineering optimization models is rapidly increasing. While the application of efficient local solvers (nonlinear program­ ming algorithms) has become widespread, a major limitation is that there is often no guarantee that the solutions that are generated correspond to global optima. In some cases finding a local solution might be adequate, but in others it might mean incurring a significant cost penalty, or even worse, getting an incorrect solution to a physical problem. Thus, the need for finding global optima in engineering is a very real one. It is the purpose of this monograph to present recent developments of tech­ niques and applications of deterministic approaches to global optimization in engineering. The present monograph is heavily represented by chemical engi­ neers; and to a large extent this is no accident. The reason is that mathematical programming is an active and vibrant area of research in chemical engineering. This trend has existed for about 15 years.