Application of Dynamic Programming to Countercurrent Flow Processes

This paper shows how the methods of dynamic programming may be applied to the problem of optimal design and operation of countercurrent flow processes. The physical relations involved are summarized by a set of transformations describing the technology of the process. The dynamic programming recursive maximum return functions are then used to generate a set of optimal technologies. The stages above and below the feed stage are treated as independent dynamic programming problems that are then coupled through the feed stage technology. The optimal design of a complex of chemical plants is used as an illustrative example.