Fuzzy AHP approach to selection problems in process engineering involving quantitative and qualitative aspects

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Chemical Engineering

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

Volume

92

Issue

5

First Page

467

Last Page

475

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Abstract

Selection problems are common in process engineering. In most cases, it is necessary to rank alternatives based on multiple criteria (e.g., cost, safety, environmental impact), which are often conflicting. In addition, some criteria may be fundamentally difficult to quantify due to data scarcity, in which case subjective assessments need to be used as a proxy. Decision analysis tools such as the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) are useful to ensure decision-making is done rationally. In this work, we propose a fuzzy AHP variant, wherein pairwise comparison of decision elements by domain experts is expressed with triangular fuzzy numbers. This approach allows the degree of confidence of the expert to be quantified explicitly; it also allows inconsistencies in judgment to be reconciled within the bounds of the fuzzy numbers to generate reasonable values for the weighting factors. We demonstrate the methodology on three case studies, involving the comparison of different types of chlor-alkali electrolytic cells, CO2 capture techniques in cement plants and wastewater treatment options for municipal wastewater. © 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Digitial Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.psep.2013.11.005

Disciplines

Chemical Engineering

Keywords

Carbon sequestration; Sewage—Purification; Electrolysis; Group decision making

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