Practical applications of mathematical modeling for integrated water management on an industrial platform

Abstract

One of the main issues in the Water Framework Directive (see the portal EU-WFD, 2011) is the establishing of specific Action plans at the River Basins levels in EU. Building up such plans implies a thorough knowledge about all the processes, stakeholders, synergies, problems active in the area of a given River basin. The paper details a Project for integrating water management at VIROMET chemical platform. The mathematical models used are based upon water balances at the platform level, with details for each particular consumer (stakeholder). Sets of restrictions are developed for water flows, production capacities, and consumptions. Linear and non-linear programming are then used to answer specific scenarios: “what is the most favorable production structure in order to maximize the profit of the VIROMET system?”, “what will be the production structure to fulfill the minimal requirements of the customers, whilst minimizing water consumption at the platform level”, “given a specific need of a stakeholder, what will be the most profitable production profile?”, etc.