Synthesis of multipass heat exchanger networks based on pinch technology

The multipass heat exchanger is the most common type of heat transfer equipment used in heat exchanger networks (HENs) by the chemical process industries. There are many methods that have been proposed for the synthesis of HENs with multipass heat exchangers, which are mostly derived from the FT design method. In this paper, an alternative new method to synthesis multipass HENs is presented based on the classical pinch technology. In the multipass heat exchanger, both countercurrent and co-current flow are involved. For the co-current flow, composite curves and problem tables are modified, and compared with that of the countercurrent flow. A proper minimum temperature difference is also selected considering the energy-capital cost trade-offs, and then a multipass HEN is synthesized. Results of the case study demonstrate that the new approach meets operating requirements and minimizes the total cost successfully.

[1]  Ahmad Fakheri.  Alternative Approach for Determining Log Mean Temperature Difference Correction Factor and Number of Shells of Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers , 2003 .

[2]  Predrag Rašković,et al.  Pinch design method in the case of a limited number of process streams , 2009 .

[3]  G. S. Davies,et al.  Synthesis of multipass heat exchanger networks , 1998 .

[4]  J. M. Ponce-Ortega,et al.  Minimum-Investment Design of Multiple Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers Using a MINLP Formulation , 2006 .

[5]  Donald Quentin Kern,et al.  Process heat transfer , 1950 .

[6]  R. M. Wood,et al.  A new method for heat exchanger network synthesis using area targeting procedures , 1995 .

[7]  John R. Flower,et al.  Synthesis of heat exchanger networks: I. Systematic generation of energy optimal networks , 1978 .

[8]  R. Smith,et al.  Targets and design for minimum number of shells in heat exchanger networks , 1989 .

[9]  Bjørn Glemmestad,et al.  OPTIMAL OPERATION OF INTEGRATED PROCESSES Studies on Heat Recovery Systems , 1997 .

[10]  Arturo Jiménez-Gutiérrez,et al.  Design and optimization of multipass heat exchangers , 2008 .

[11]  Arturo Jiménez-Gutiérrez,et al.  Synthesis of multipass heat exchanger networks using genetic algorithms , 2008, Comput. Chem. Eng..

[12]  B. Linnhoff,et al.  The pinch design method for heat exchanger networks , 1983 .

[13]  Bodo Linnhoff,et al.  A User guide on process integration for the efficient use of energy , 1994 .

[14]  María Rosa Galli,et al.  Synthesis of heat exchanger networks featuring a minimum number of constrained-size shells of 1-2 type , 2000 .