Process Systems Engineering(PSE)is an extremely wide field that has a variety of applications in industries,which provides opportunities in the field where important theoretical and practical innovations are converted into immediate applications to promote positive changes in the process industries.In recent years,process integration,multiobjective optimization,optimal design and operation,and energy conservation are confronted with both academic and industrial challenges.To provide a platform for domestic practitioners exchanging opinions and experiences and enhance inter-disciplinary and integration of knowledge of PSE,Chinese Process Systems Engineering Annual Meeting 2016(PSE2016)was held in Xi'an,China,on July 27–29,2016.

PSE2016 is the twenty- fifth in the series of conferences started in 1991,which was sponsored by the Branch of Process Systems Engineering,the Systems Engineering Society of China.The major themes of PSE2016 were Smart Manufacturing and Big Data in PSE.The conference attracted 251 papers authored from either academic institutions or industrial companies.Of these 230 papers were presented as oral presentations,15 papers have been finally included in this Special Issue,which mainly coversDevelopment of Multi-objective Optimization Algorithms,Process Integration for Energy Conservation,Simulations and Optimal Design of Process Systems.

Multi-objective optimization is an important topic not only because of the multi-objective nature of most problems in practice,but also because many open questions remain unsolved.To increase the qualified product yield and energy utilization efficiency,Zhonget al.[1]proposed an improved self-adaptive multi-objective differential evolution algorithm for the optimization of an industrial PX oxidation process.To maximize the benefits and minimize the coking amount,Duet al.[2]proposed an improved hybrid encoding non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm for the optimization of an ethylene plant.For optimal operations of microbial fuel cells,Heet al.[3]developed a multi-objective genetic algorithm integrated with graphical visualization technique.Shiet al.[4]addressed the multi-objective optimization of a crude distillation unit(CDU)by using a combination of wavelet neural network(WNN)-based optimization model and line-up competition algorithm(LCA).Liexiang Yanet al.[5]developed a hierarchical scheduling strategy and order assignment strategies.

Process integration on design and retro fit of optimal networks for resources recovery and energy conservation has been studied intensively over the past decades.However,in process industries,energy efficiency and cost saving still have room to improve.For synthesis of heat exchanger networks(HENs),Xianget al.[6]developed a graph method of T-Q diagram based on the entransy theory.Kanget al.[7]developed a systematic three-stage strategy for the HEN retro fit problems based on the multi-objective optimization.Duetal.[8]proposed a stepwise methodology for synthesis of direct work exchange networks(WENs)to minimize utility consumption.Liuet al.[9]proposed an integration strategy of hydrogen network and an operational optimization model with reaction kinetics of hydrotreating units.

Current research on optimal design of process systems has taken both the steady and dynamic characteristics into consideration to maximize the energy saving and the emission control by combining simulation and optimization.Yuanet al.[10]established an optimal design for a pilot dividing wall column,and the optimal control schemes are determined.Liet al.[11]proposed an optimal design and a plantwide control structure by a steady optimization and dynamic simulations.Qiuet al.[12]simulated the process of naphtha pyrolysis in an industrial tubular furnace.Jiaet al.[13]studied transport behaviors of solid particles in supercritical water flowing through the shell and tube heat exchangers.Zhanget al.[14]developed a diameter-varying spray tower to enhance heat and mass transfer in CO2absorption process.Heet al.[15]optimized the door seal of refrigerators with the mass and heat transfer characteristics.

All the authors and reviewers are gratefully acknowledged for their most valuable contributions.As the Guest Editor,I believes that the selected papers would enrich the latest advances of the concerns in the PSE community and be of the interest to readers of Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering.

[1]L.L.Tao,B.Xu,Z.H.Hu,W.M.Zhong,Multi-objective optimization ofp-xylene oxidation process using an improved self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)983–991.

[2]P.Jiang,W.L.Du,Multi-objective modeling and optimization for scheduling ofcracking furnace systems,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)992–999.

[3]K.Yang,Y.J.He,Z.F.Ma,Multi-objective steady-state optimization of two-chamber microbial fuel cells,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1000–1012.

[4]B.Shi,X.Yang,L.X.Yan,Optimization of a crude distillation unitusing a combination of wavelet neural network and line-up competition algorithm,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1013–1021.

[5]B.Shi,X.R.Qian,S.S.Sun,L.X.Yan,Rule-based scheduling of multi-stage multiproduct batch plants with parallel units,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1022–1036.

[6]L.Xia,Y.L.Feng,X.Y.Sun,S.G.Xiang,A novel method based on entransy theory for setting energy targets of heat exchanger network,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1037–1042.

[7]L.X.Kang,Y.Z.Liu,A systematic strategy for multi-period heat exchanger network retro fit under multiple practical restrictions,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1043–1051.

[8]Y.Zhuang,L.L.Liu,Q.L.Liu,J.Du,Step-wise synthesis of work exchange networks involving heat integration based on the transshipment model,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1052–1060.

[9]L.Wu,X.Q.Liang,L.X.Kang,Y.Z.Liu,Integration strategies of hydrogen network in a refinery based on operational optimization of hydrotreating units,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1061–1068.

[10]X.L.Ge,B.T.Liu,X.G.Yuan,Y.Q.Luo,K.-K.Yu,Application of the dividing wall column to olefin separation in fluidization methanol to propylene(FMTP)process,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1069–1078.

[11]Z.X.Huang,Y.X.Lin,X.D.Wang,C.S.Ye,L.Li,Optimization and control of a reactive distillation process for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1079–1090.

[12]Z.Fang,T.Qiu,W.G.Zhou,Coupled simulation of recirculation zonal firebox model and detailed kinetic reactor model in an industrial ethylene cracking furnace,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1091–1100.

[13]L.Huang,L.Qi,H.N.Wang,J.L.Zhang,X.Q.Jia,Optimal design of heat exchanger header for coal gasification in supercritical water through CFD simulations,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1101–1108.

[14]X.M.Wu,Y.S.Yu,Z.Qin,Z.X.Zhang,Performance of CO2absorption in a diametervarying spray tower,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1109–1114.

[15]H.S.Tan,X.Z.Song,Y.Zhang,M.G.He,The mass and heat transfer process through the door seal of refrigeration,Chin.J.Chem.Eng.25(8)(2017)1115–1119.