Flowsheet synthesis through hierarchical reinforcement learning and graph neural networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Stops, Laura, Leenhouts, Roel, Gao, Qinghe, Schweidtmann, Artur M.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2022
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author Stops, Laura
Leenhouts, Roel
Gao, Qinghe
Schweidtmann, Artur M.
author_facet Stops, Laura
Leenhouts, Roel
Gao, Qinghe
Schweidtmann, Artur M.
contents Process synthesis experiences a disruptive transformation accelerated by digitization and artificial intelligence. We propose a reinforcement learning algorithm for chemical process design based on a state-of-the-art actor-critic logic. Our proposed algorithm represents chemical processes as graphs and uses graph convolutional neural networks to learn from process graphs. In particular, the graph neural networks are implemented within the agent architecture to process the states and make decisions. Moreover, we implement a hierarchical and hybrid decision-making process to generate flowsheets, where unit operations are placed iteratively as discrete decisions and corresponding design variables are selected as continuous decisions. We demonstrate the potential of our method to design economically viable flowsheets in an illustrative case study comprising equilibrium reactions, azeotropic separation, and recycles. The results show quick learning in discrete, continuous, and hybrid action spaces. Due to the flexible architecture of the proposed reinforcement learning agent, the method is predestined to include large action-state spaces and an interface to process simulators in future research.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2207_12051
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Flowsheet synthesis through hierarchical reinforcement learning and graph neural networks
Stops, Laura
Leenhouts, Roel
Gao, Qinghe
Schweidtmann, Artur M.
Machine Learning
Optimization and Control
Process synthesis experiences a disruptive transformation accelerated by digitization and artificial intelligence. We propose a reinforcement learning algorithm for chemical process design based on a state-of-the-art actor-critic logic. Our proposed algorithm represents chemical processes as graphs and uses graph convolutional neural networks to learn from process graphs. In particular, the graph neural networks are implemented within the agent architecture to process the states and make decisions. Moreover, we implement a hierarchical and hybrid decision-making process to generate flowsheets, where unit operations are placed iteratively as discrete decisions and corresponding design variables are selected as continuous decisions. We demonstrate the potential of our method to design economically viable flowsheets in an illustrative case study comprising equilibrium reactions, azeotropic separation, and recycles. The results show quick learning in discrete, continuous, and hybrid action spaces. Due to the flexible architecture of the proposed reinforcement learning agent, the method is predestined to include large action-state spaces and an interface to process simulators in future research.
title Flowsheet synthesis through hierarchical reinforcement learning and graph neural networks
topic Machine Learning
Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.12051