h i g h l i g h t s We study the detailed planning in networks of air compressors in air separation sites. Operational and several types of maintenance tasks for compressors are modeled. The power consumption in the compressors is expressed by regression functions. Our optimization framework can be directly used in a rolling horizon scheme. Our approach has been successfully applied to an industrial air separation plant. a b s t r a c t A general mathematical framework for the optimization of

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... mpressors operations in air separation plants that considers operating constraints for compressors, several types of maintenance policies and managerial aspects is presented. The proposed approach can be used in a rolling horizon scheme. The operating status, the power consumption, the startup and the shutdown costs for compressors, the compressor-to-header assignments as well as the outlet mass flow rates for compressed air and distillation products are optimized under full demand satisfaction. The power consumption in the compressors is expressed by regression functions that have been derived using technical and historical data. Several case studies of an industrial air separation plant are solved. The results demonstrate that the simultaneous optimization of maintenance and operational tasks of the compressors favor the generation of better solutions in terms of total costs.