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Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2014 | Volume: 14 | Issue: 22 | Page No.: 3070-3076
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2014.3070.3076
Taguchi’s Parametric Design Approach for Determining the Significant Decision Variables in a Condensate Fractionation Unit
Lee Chia Chun, Nooryusmiza Yusoff and Syed Faizan Ali

Abstract: Taguchi method is used as an experimental design to efficiently determine the significant decision variables and their respective optimal levels contributing towards the most profitable operating mode of a Condensate Fractionation Unit (CFU). The present study aims to reduce the frequent optimization issues such as high market dynamics in term of fluctuation of price of condensate feedstock and products as well as the difficulties in determining the decisive variables for effective implementation of optimization strategy. For this purpose, a steady-state CFU model developed under HYSYS environment is used as a virtual plant to carry out the fractionation processes. Experiments are executed by utilizing the combination of process parameters (nine controllable and two noise factors) based on three-level of L27 and L9 Taguchi orthogonal array with the help of analysis of mean, analysis of variance, signal-to-noise ratio analysis and response plots as the analytical tools. Maximum CFU profit can be obtained from an optimal configuration of both controllable and noise factors and this unique configuration is run in HYSYS for validation. Agreements are found in the results from HYSYS experiments with the calculated optimum profit values and the improved profit further verifies the optimality of configuration.

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How to cite this article
Lee Chia Chun, Nooryusmiza Yusoff and Syed Faizan Ali, 2014. Taguchi’s Parametric Design Approach for Determining the Significant Decision Variables in a Condensate Fractionation Unit. Journal of Applied Sciences, 14: 3070-3076.

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