Solving global optimization problems using reformulations and signomial transformations

•A framework for convexifying MINLP problems containing signomial functions and twice-differentiable functions is presented.•Lifting transformation schemes based on power, exponential and αBB-type reformulations is used.•The transformations used in the framework are obtained by solving an optimizati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers & chemical engineering Vol. 116; pp. 122 - 134
Main Authors: Lundell, A., Westerlund, T.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 04.08.2018
Subjects:
Difference of convex functions
Exponential transformations
Global optimization
Nonconvex MINLP
Power transformations
Reformulation techniques
Signomial functions
Twice-differentiable nonconvex functions
α reformulation
αBB convex underestimator
Global optimization
Twice-differentiable nonconvex functions
Reformulation techniques
Signomial functions
α reformulation
Power transformations
Difference of convex functions
Exponential transformations
αBB convex underestimator
Nonconvex MINLP
ISSN:0098-1354, 1873-4375
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:•A framework for convexifying MINLP problems containing signomial functions and twice-differentiable functions is presented.•Lifting transformation schemes based on power, exponential and αBB-type reformulations is used.•The transformations used in the framework are obtained by solving an optimization problem in a preprocessing step.•The reformulations technique is included in a global algorithm that can solve any twice-differentiable MINLP problem. In this paper, a framework for reformulating nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems containing twice-differentiable (C2) functions to convex relaxed form is discussed. To provide flexibility and for utilizing more effective transformation strategies, the twice-differentiable functions can be partitioned into convex, signomial and general nonconvex functions. The latter two can then be convexified using lifting transformations in combination with approximations using piecewise linear functions (PLFs). However, since there are many degrees of freedom in how to select the set of transformations, an optimization-based method is proposed for finding an optimal set. The lifting transformations are based on single-variable power and exponential transformations for signomials. For nonconvex C2-functions the α reformulation (αR) technique as well as more generally the method of difference of convex functions can be applied. In the αR, the αBB convex underestimator can be used. The framework is utilized in the α signomial global optimization (αSGO) algorithm to find the ϵ-global solution to a nonconvex problem by iteratively updating the approximations provided by the PLFs. The framework can also be used to directly obtain a convex relaxation of any nonconvex MINLP problem of the specified type to a determined accuracy.
ISSN:0098-1354
1873-4375
DOI:10.1016/j.compchemeng.2017.10.035