https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2005.025
Published: Kem. Ind. 55 (10) (2006) 403–412
Paper reference number: KUI-25/2005
Paper type: Professional paper
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Heat Analysis of Processes – I. Synthesis of Heat Exchanger Network by Pinch Method

L. Matijašević

Abstract

In the last twenty-five years in the chemical process industry an important point of interest has been, how to minimize total costs, i.e. capital and operating costs expressed as annual charges. Pinch method is thermodynamically oriented method for the synthesis of heat exchanger networks with extended to combined heat and power system, separation schemes, integrated distillation columns and general process design. There have been two schools of the heat exchanger network synthesis. One relies on thermodynamic principles where the designer manually or interactively if software is available, synthesizes the network. The heat exchanger network of a nitric acid plant has been studied and it was found that it is possible to reduce requirements for cooling water and medium pressure steam. In order to enable these savings, three heat exchangers should be replaced with new ones. Energy consumption in steam power system increases slightly. However, the final result is a reduction of energy costs and a payback time of 14.5 months. The other approach relies on mathematical methods like linear and nonlinear programming. In this work thermodynamically oriented method is presented for the synthesis of heat exchanger network.

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Keywords

heat exchanger network, pinch method, heat analysis