Supply responsive scheduling for ethylene cracking furnace systems based on deep reinforcement learning

Abstract Ethylene is one of the most important chemicals, and scheduling optimization is crucial for the profitability of ethylene cracking furnace systems. With the diversification of feedstocks and the high variability in prices, supply chain fluctuations pose significant challenges to the scheduling decisions. Dynamically responding to these fluctuations has become crucial. Traditional mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) models lack the capability of supply chain response, while receding horizon optimization (RHO) models require parameter prediction and repeated optimization solving. To address this challenge, we propose a deep reinforcement learning‐based framework that includes an ethylene dynamic scheduling environment and a decision agent based on deep Q ‐network. Across three test cases, compared to the MINLP and RHO models, this framework significantly minimizes losses caused by supply chain fluctuations, thereby increasing daily average net profits by 9%–27%, demonstrating its significant potential for application in responsive scheduling in the presence of supply chain fluctuations.