ABSTRACT
The determination of the most desirable operating targets requires solution of an optimization problem whose aim is to find the values of decision variables that yield the most favorable process performance. Optimization can be carried out at all levels of industrial production, but those related to process operation are the most typical ones and of interest in this chapter. The basic concepts of optimization are reviewed first including the key elements of a typical process optimization problem. Then the effect of process disturbances on the optimal achievable operating conditions is discussed. This leads to the concept of back-off from the optimum to guarantee a feasible operation. The concept of back-off has strong economic implications and is intimately tied to the implementation of advanced control strategies that would recover and maintain the back-off amount. Finally, the problem of dynamic optimization is addressed, which is used to determine an optimal transition policy that would minimize an index of variability during a planned change in production.
