The Sequential Framework for Heat Exchanger Network Synthesis – Network Generation and Optimization

A Sequential Framework for Heat Exchanger Network Synthesis (HENS) is presented. The network generation and optimization phase of the framework, one of its core subproblems, is presented with details as to the source of the non-convexities in the model. Physical insight based automated starting value generators are developed to ensure that the base NLP formulation solves to a ‘good’ local optimum. Two methods of dealing with the non-convexities are also briefly presented.