Synthesis of system designs: III. Toward a process concept generator

Abstract

Abstract Principles are developed for the computer‐aided generation of initial process flowsheets. The invention of a process concept is analogous to the proof of a multihypothesis/multiconclusion theorem, a mental activity which has been simulated on the computer. Techniques of artificial intelligence are combined with the concept of equivalence class matching and information flow logic to develop a working, computerized process synthesizer. This is part of a continuing project on the development of principles of process invention.