Optimal Temperature and Catalyst Renewal Policies in a Tubular Reactor with Catalyst Decay

Abstract

<p> The optimal temperature and catalyst renewal policies which maximize the average profit over a free time period in a tubular reactor with uniform temperature and decaying catalyst for a single irreversible reaction, are sought.</p> <p> In addition, the optimal initial catalyst activity and the optimal total time have been studied.</p> <p> A numerical procedure together with theoretical developments is used to solve the problem for a more general performance index (average profit function) which takes into account the value of the desired product, the cost for the regeneration of the catalyst and the cost of the fresh catalyst.</p> <p> The problem is treated in the format of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle.</p>