Pre-Detailed Design: Process Model Selection

The chapter focuses on such design activity as the selection of proper model describing the processes and phenomena. This activity could take place as early as on Conceptual design phase to evaluate the alternatives and also on Detailed design to get more specific characteristics of designing process. Therefore, the applications of Case-based design supporting method to model selection process are united under pre-detailed design activity.

The procedure of model selection could not actually be a design supporting method itself. It is only initial step in further modelling and evaluation. But the design engineers in many cases meet serious difficulties in determination proper model type, acceptable simplifications of model, and initial state for the modelling. The CBD approach seems to be a good opportunity to overcome the difficulties and in such way to support the design process.

Two different applications of CBD for the model selection are considered in the chapter: selection the mixed integer nonlinear programming model for synthesis of distillation systems and selection of model for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with ammonia in forced unsteady-state reactors.