Design Synthesis

Bringing it Home

Whitney Quesenbery , Daniel Szuc , in Global UX, 2011

Carrying the Conversation Forward

The ultimate goal is to make a connection between the research and how it can be used to move a project forward. That conversation starts with the informal debriefings and is continued through the work of analyzing and sharing the results. During that process, what Bas and Geke call the moment of synthesis occurs, when something triggers an understanding and becomes a new idea. "When these ideas come up, we often do an exercise when we say, 'Let's step again into the shoes of the participants and let's invite them to give a response on these ideas.' It is always possible to think, 'Let's look at this idea from the perspective of Toby. What would Toby think of this?' The idea is to move from the observations, the field work, the insights, and use them to generate new service concepts."

At this moment, all the rich materials you have gathered really pay off. Instead of sitting around a table with a pile of paper in their hands, this moment takes place surrounded by all the photos and stories that you have structured for the event.

One other piece of advice comes from Rachel Hinman: Limit the number of key points. "I find that people can't handle more than five major implications. After a study, you can come up with five directives or design principles that explain what we have heard, what it means, and why it matters to our project. From there, you can gain insight into how you can expand on those principles into some sort of expression in design."

Design Synthesis

"Design is that act of problem solving—of appropriating formal qualities into a new design idea that fulfills the stated criteria and adds value to the human condition. Synthesis is a sensemaking process that helps the designer move from data to information, and from information to knowledge." Jon Kolko (2010)

A Broader Conversation

The last step is to find ways to carry the conversation out into the company. The research may have been aimed at one project or one problem, but some of the cultural knowledge can be used in many projects. One of the reasons to bring other stakeholders on research trips is so that they can be the ones to share stories about what they saw. It may have more impact coming from a direct colleague.

You can also make a conscious point of bringing information from research into any conversation. When Kimberly Wiessner is in any meeting, "I can recall things I've seen in research and speak to those things. I think bringing those tidbits of information back into the business daily grind of whatever it is we're trying to accomplish is really, really important."

All of this aims to create a larger discussion about whether we are creating the best experience for the customer, and whether we have a rich enough global understanding of the customer to ensure that we're delivering on the best experience.

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30th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering

Gabriel Contreras-Zarazúa , ... Juan Gabriel Segovia-Hernandez , in Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2020

Abstract

In this work the design, synthesis and optimization of a furfural production plant, considering the most abundant and common lignocellulosic wastes of Mexico is proposed. For the process, different pretreatment technologies and different purification process including intensified schemes are considered giving a total of 32 possible process alternatives. The pretreatment technologies are the dilute acid (DA) and ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) respectively, for the separation zone we considered an azeotropic distillation process, a thermally coupled scheme distillation, a dividing wall column and one liquid- liquid extraction process. A two-stage procedure is used to determine the best process per biomass type. First, the processes are modelled in Aspen plus. Next, the best option per biomass is optimized using the differential evolution with tabu list in order to minimize the total annual cost and the environmental impact. The prescreening results indicate that the dilute acid pretreatment and the thermally coupled distillation provide the lowest cost and environmental impact for furfural production for all the raw materials. The optimization results indicate that a biorefinery with wheat straw as raw material is the best option to produce furfural due to its low cost and environmental impact which are 13 M$/yr and 4,536,512 eco-points/year respectively.

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Software Design Synthesis Practice

Richard F. Schmidt , in Software Engineering, 2013

13.2.2 Identify integrating components

At this juncture in the design synthesis practice the upper and lower tiers of the design solution have been resolved with a conceptual and fundamental arrangement of structural design elements. Between these two tiers emerges the design chasm, which must be bridged to unite the conceptual design layers with the structural design layers. This design chasm can only be traversed by identifying integrative structural components that either:

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Progressively extend the structural design layers toward the conceptual design components.

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Progressively decompose the conceptual design components to envelop the elements of the structural design layers.

Integrating components enable the conceptual and structural design layers to coalesce into a comprehensive, unified structural design solution. Integrating components should be recognizable as conceptual mechanisms of which the purpose is to provide an assembly packaging apparatus. The integration tier provides one or more layers of integrating components that align the lower-tier structural components with upper-tier conceptual components. The following guidelines suggest some principles for determining how to identify integrating components:

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Integrating components should provide an intuitive adaptation in the transition from the structural to conceptual design layer.

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Each integrating component should represent a significant assembly and integration action and should form a perceptible element within the structural configuration.

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Integrating components should provide a judicious progression of the software integration and testing strategy. The result of each integration and testing endeavor should be a self-contained, proven structural component with verified interfaces.

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Minor, incremental integration actions should be avoided unless they are deliberately devised to mitigate risks.

Every integrating component is a higher-level structural component. The rationale for distinguishing between the structural and integrating components is the level within the structural configuration in which they are stationed or located. Structural components are situated in the top level of the bottommost tier and were derived unambiguously from the functional architecture as large, complex functional units.

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31st European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering

Yue Li , ... Rafiqul Gani , in Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2021

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel method for synthesis, design and innovation of sustainable integrated processes that combines water, energy, waste treatment and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) networks together with the overall objective to minimize carbon emissions and wastes under uncertainty. Compared to the earlier deterministic method (Li et al, 2020), in this method, uncertainty of parameters, CCU as well as extended models for the process, water and energy networks have been systematically addressed in this work. The applicability of the extended method is demonstrated through a case study that considers the xylitol production process together with water, energy and CCU networks. Raw material prices, product prices and demand are considered as stochastic. The results show that the multi-network synthesis and design method is able to determine the optimal solution with high economic benefits and zero or low carbon emission under uncertainty for different scenarios.

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12th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering and 25th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering

Esmael R. Seid , Thokozani Majozi , in Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2015

Abstract

The aim of this contribution is to address design, synthesis and scheduling simultaneously with the consideration of economic savings in utility requirements. The recent design and synthesis model by Seid and Majozi (2013) is extended to incorporate the design of the associated utility facility, since it is proven to result in better design objective and computational efficiencies. Additional feature of the proposed model is the determination of optimal pipe connection between processing equipment. The model is implemented in a case study in order to demonstrate its application. From the case study, the profit is increased by 20% and the total utility requirement is reduced by 41.1% for the design and synthesis of energy integrated batch plant compared to the basic design.

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12th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering and 25th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering

Brenno C. Menezes , ... Ignacio E. Grossmann , in Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2015

1 Introduction

Multi-period and multi-scenario process design synthesis models integrating logic variables and quantity-quality relations gives rise to large scale non-convex mixed-integer nonlinear (MINLP) models that are often difficult to solve. In order to overcome this problem, a method denoted here as the phenomenological decomposition heuristic (PDH) partitions MINLP models into two simpler submodels namely logistics (quantity and logic) and quality (quantity and quality) problems. The logistics model solves a mixed-integer linear (MILP) problem with quantity and logic variables subject to quantity and logic constraints. Quality optimization solves a nonlinear (NLP) model for quantity and quality variables subject to quantity and quality constraints after the logic variables have been fixed at the values obtained from the solution of the logistics optimization.

The PDH algorithm resembles the well-known approach suggested in generalized Benders decomposition where complicating variables (in this case, binary) are fixed such that a simpler problem may be solved, which are later freed again for the new iteration of the master problem (Geoffrion, 1972). A similar method has also been applied for a different purpose, namely that of integrating decentralized decisionmaking systems through a hierarchical decomposition heuristic (HDH) (Kelly and Zyngier, 2008). In the context of the integration between logistics and quality problems, the coordinator (logistics problem) would send what we call logic pole-offers to the cooperator (quality problem), which would send back logic pole-offsets to the coordinator. This procedure continues until convergence is achieved, hopefully providing a good globally feasible MINLP solution.

A phenomenological decomposition example considering an MINLP crude-oil scheduling problem (Mouret et al., 2009) compares the full space solution and its decomposed MILP-NLP problem by neglecting the pooling or blending nonlinear constraints in the MILP model, and then composing the model in an NLP problem by relating quantity and quality variables for the binary results found in the MILP model. In their work, the full space solution becomes intractable for industrial-sized examples, but they are solved in an MILP-NLP decomposition gap lower than 4%. Only a small example considering low number of time slots is solved using an MINLP formulation, which yields the same result found in the decomposed solution but with higher computational expense.

Another decomposition method, applied in large scale MILP process industry problems (You et al., 2011; Corsano et al., 2014) and relying on relaxations and primal bounding information, is the bi-level decomposition (Iyer and Grossmann, 1998) that requires smaller computational times leading to solutions that are much closer to the global optimum when compared to the full space solution and to Lagrangean decomposition (Guignard and Kim, 1987). A cross-decomposition algorithm (Mitra et al., 2014), combining Benders and scenario based Lagrangean decomposition in two-stage stochastic MILP problems with complete recourse, demonstrates a reduction of iterations and stronger lower bounds compared to pure Benders decomposition.

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Configuring the Physical Architecture

Richard F. Schmidt , in Software Engineering, 2013

12.2.3 Behavioral analysis

Behavioral modeling and simulation support the functional analysis and design synthesis practices by providing a comprehensive, integrated representation of the software architecture (product and process architectural representations). Behavioral models capture the relationships among the elements of the architecture that provide traceability from design elements, characteristics, and features back to stakeholder requirements and software specifications. Behavioral models should represent the software architecture via the following design representations or model perspectives:

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Functional decomposition diagram—a depiction of the functional hierarchy that captures decomposition bidirectional relationships among functional components and units.

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Operational model—a depiction of the operational or business process represented as an integrated view of functional, data, and control flows. The operational model is a composite view of a functional flow block, data flow, and control flow diagrams.

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Execution timeline—a depiction of the software product or process execution timeline that identifies functional sequencing, data exchange durations, and resource utilization graphs. The operational models should provide a simulation capability that can automatically generate the execution timeline.

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Entity-relationship diagram—a depiction of a single element of the software architecture and its established relationships to other elements of the architecture.

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Interface block diagram—a depiction of the physical interfaces an element of the structural configuration has with other structural elements, external systems, or applications.

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Structural configuration diagram—a depiction of the structural elements that comprise the software product structural configuration, structural assemblage, or component. It identifies the decomposition of the software product or a structural component into lower-level structural elements (components or units). (Note: When viewed in a bottom-up manner, this diagram should identify the software integration strategy.)

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Engineering assembly diagram—a variation of the structural configuration diagram that identifies the structural subelements, test stubs, or drivers that are necessary to assemble, integrate, and test a structural component or the software product configuration.

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Software integration diagram—a variation of a structural configuration diagram that identifies the version, file name, location, etc. of each structural element that will be involved in the assembly, integration, and testing of a structural component.

Figure 12.3 provides a sense of the behavioral analysis design representations for the software product architecture. The design representations identified for the software product architecture are applicable to the architectures for each of the post-development processes. (Reminder: The integrated product and process development, or IPPD, philosophy states that the software engineering practices apply to the design of the software product and post-development processes.)

Figure 12.3. Behavioral analysis design representations.

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30th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering

Yue Li , ... Rafiqul Gani , in Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2020

Abstract

In this paper, we propose the concept of sustainable synthesis, design and innovation of integrated processes that include water and power generation networks with the overall objective to achieve zero or negative carbon emissions as well as wastes. A superstructure-based framework is developed and leads to the formation of a new consolidated optimization problem, which represents multiple networks at different scales and includes environmental impacts as constraints. Problem was solved step by step using a decomposition-based solution strategy and leads to the design of a totally integrated and sustainable process. The applicability of the framework and solution steps is demonstrated through a realistic conceptual case study under different scenarios to obtain and analyze different sustainable solutions

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The Design-Minded Enterprise

Milan Guenther , in Intersection, 2013

Designing and validating results

The conceptual models, insights, and approaches derived from design synthesis are used to envision prototypes, resulting in interactive models of the outcome of a design process. Rather than just proving the feasibility of a concept to prepare for implementation, prototyping is used in design as a tool for creative exploration, as a thinking aid to try out different directions and further ideation prior to choosing a definite path. It serves as a communication tool for aligning a design with stakeholders and target groups, as a source for further questions and possible directions, and can be used to involve people from outside the core design team into the activities of exploration and synthesis. Instead of discussion, opinions, and compromise, the interactivity of prototypes helps to embed the development and evaluation of designs in a realistic setting.

Prototypes mean different things to different people, but share the common goal to put a design to the test and validate it against the problem space. They are usually different from sketches and conceptual models in the sense that they attempt to capture a certain part or aspect of a design holistically and comprehensively, enabling detailed exploration, testing, and iterative redesign. The nature and effort of a prototype therefore vary widely, depending on what exactly is to be validated and the stage in the design process. Design professionals combine multiple very different prototypes to represent the different aspects of their design using a reasonable effort.

Prototyping is a powerful tool to turn the results from framing and sensemaking into visions of a possible future. The visible, tangible, and interactive part can be used to explore different domains of design work, including simulations of flows in the background such as business processes or financial streams. As the indispensable result of all design work, prototypes indicate the direction of the transition, and help to define and refine a solution leading to its implementation, based on the constant and relentless inquiry for the best possible outcome.

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Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design

Anjan Kumar Tula , ... Rafiqul Gani , in Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2014

Abstract

This paper describes the development and application of a framework for synthesis, design, and analysis of chemical and biochemical processes. The framework is based on the principle of group contribution used for prediction of physical properties. The fundamental pillars of this methodology are the definition and use of process-groups (building blocks) representing process operations, flowsheet connectivity rules to join the process-groups and flowsheet property models to evaluate the performance of the flowsheet structures. This framework for synthesis and design of chemical and biochemical processes along with the associated models and tools is generic and can be applied either to retrofit problems where improvement of an existing process flowsheet is desired or to design a new process flowsheet. Based on the framework, a prototype software has been developed and its application is highlighted through a case study involving the well-known HDA process.

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