摘要：A concept of an intelligent optimal design approach is proposed, which isorganized by a kind of compound knowledge model. The compound knowledge consists of modularizedquantitative knowledge, inclusive experience knowledge and case-based sample knowledge. By usingthis compound knowledge model, the abundant quantity information of mathematical programming and thesymbolic knowledge of artificial intelligence can be united together in this model. The intelligentoptimal design model based on such a compound knowledge and the automatically generateddecomposition principles based on it are also presented. Practically, it is applied to theproduction planning, process schedule and optimization of production process of a refining &chemical work and a great profit is achieved. Specially, the methods and principles are adaptablenot only to continuous process industry, but also to discrete manufacturing one.