Optimizing natural gas liquids (NGL) production process: A multi-objective approach for energy-efficient operations using genetic algorithm and artificial neural networks.

There are various techniques for separating natural gas liquid (NGL) from natural gas, one of which is refrigeration. In this method, the temperature is reduced in the dew point adjustment stage to condense the NGLs. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a methodology for optimizing the NGLs production process by determining the optimal values for specific set-points such as temperature and pressure in various vessels and equipment. The methodology also focuses on minimizing energy consumption during the NGL production process. To do this, this research defines a multi-objective problem and presents a hybrid algorithm, including a genetic algorithm (NSGA II) and artificial neural network (ANN) system. We solve the defined multi-objective problem using NSGA II. In order to design a tool that is a decision-helper for selecting the appropriate set-points, the ability of the ANN algorithm along with multi-objective optimization is evaluated. We implement our proposed algorithm in an Iranian chemical factory, specifically the NGL plant, which separates NGL from natural gas, as a case study for this article. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm using the nonparametric statistical Kruskal-Wallis test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]