Optimization Approach to Identify Fair Solutions in the Synthesis of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen Symbiosis Networks

Abstract

The concern about the proper use of mass and heat resources in the industry has led to adopt different alternatives for the operation and performance of the process systems. Schemes such as eco-industrial parks (EIPs) and sustainable cities have the purpose of enhancing the usage of the available resources through an exchange network where different resources are allocated among several industrial processes. Recently, the carbon–hydrogen–oxygen symbiosis networks (CHOSYNs) have been proposed as a special case of EIP, where the multiplant integration allows the exchange of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen compounds among hydrocarbon processing plants. Previous CHOSYN designs have been focused on determining the most suitable allocation of resources to satisfy the material requirements for each industrial plant and obtain the best economic result for the total integrated system. Notwithstanding, this result usually provides unfair solutions, where the biggest industries have the main economic advantages, leaving aside the profitability of the smallest industries. This paper evaluates distinct allocation schemes in the synthesis of CHOSYNs through an optimization approach to identify fair solutions to allocate the available resources. A mathematical formulation is presented for three different justice schemes to design the material exchange network: social welfare, Rawlsian justice, and Nash schemes. The addressed case study has been previously analyzed through the optimization of the total annual profit, which allows comparing the utilities of all of the plants when the allocation schemes are included.

Fair Allocation of Potential COVID-19 Vaccines Using an Optimization-Based Strategy

“…These schemes have been previously used through mathematical models to allocate resources in agricultural (water) and industrial systems (raw materials) (Munguía-López et al 2019 ; Juárez-García et al 2020 ). Furthermore, the social welfare approach has been used to allocate supply and demand in electricity markets (Zavala et al 2017 ).…”

Optimal Design of Water Networks in Eco-Industrial Parks Incorporating a Fairness Approach

“…Similarly, the optimal design for the exchange of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen compounds in EIPs has been studied considering the fairness schemes. 15 Here, fair solutions were identified to allocate the available resources between the distinct stakeholders (considering the biggest industries as well as the smallest ones). These fairness schemes have been used to allocate resources in other multistakeholder systems such as electricity markets 16 and load balancing problems.…”

Systematic Approach for Synthesizing Carbon–Hydrogen–Oxygen Networks Involving Detailed Process Simulations

“…Juaŕez-Garci ́a et al 33 involved allocation schemes for identifying fair allocation of exchangeable streams among the participants in the CHOSYN.…”

“…The first attempt to the simultaneous mass and energy integration for CHOSYN was implemented by Topolski et al Farouk et al developed a rigorous optimization model that includes economic, sustainability, and safety objectives. Juárez-García et al involved allocation schemes for identifying fair allocation of exchangeable streams among the participants in the CHOSYN.…”