Hybrid Neural network-GA modeling for separation of linear and branched paraffins by adsorption process for gasoline octane number improvement

After recognizing the toxic and carcinogenic effects of Lead organic compounds, production of compounds such as Methyl tertiary butyl ether as an additive to ordinary hydro carbonate gases was proposed. These materials are able to enter into water, soil and air due to relative steam pressure and partial dissolution in water and cause the pollution. As a result, development of a new process for producing gas with high octane from complex compounds of light petroleum distillates was initiated. This method is based on separating C5-C8 linear and branched alkanes according to their absorption properties, chain length and the number of branches. In this study, the hybrid neural network model based on experimental data in the database has been used as an alternative model for predicting the separation rate of linear and branched paraffin through absorption process. Absorption temperature, absorption time, hydrocarbons' octane number, and hydrocarbon density are considered as four input parameters, and the ratio of linear paraffin concentration to total (C/C0) as the output parameter of neural network. The neural network model was successfully generalized by experimental database and then was investigated with the help of test data. The results of modeling for the test data indicated the success of neural network model in predicting the rate of linear paraffin separation from non-linear ones. Therefore, the developed neural network model can be used for determining the C/C0 with confidence in absorption process. According the obtained results for test data, the minimum mean squared error is 0/0518, which is a satisfactory measure. The model and experimental data were compared and regression coefficient 0.990 shows good matching between modeling results and experimental results.