Flowsheet Optimizer

We have enhanced the Optimizer to offer improved diagnostics and controls, making it easier to build robust optimizations. Key changes are:

• Perturbation step sizes for independent variables are now set to absolute values rather than using a value relative to the variable range. The default step sizes are now based on the variable type (mass flow, liquid volume flow, T, P and so on)
• Scaling options have been improved with an auto-scaling option for the objective function and direct control over constraint scaling
• Diagnostics are significantly improved to help you see a trace of optimizer progress and to see more history information on the iterations
• Improved convergence criteria are available to cope with situations where the optimizer has difficulty converging
• You can set a target value for the objective function, forcing the optimizer to stop when it reaches the target with a feasible solution
• You can set up sequential optimizations where each optimization step builds on the results of the previous
• Optimizer algorithms upgraded to the latest versions of IP-OPT and XPRESS-SLP