Combined mass and heat exchange network synthesis based on stage-wise superstructure model☆

Integrating multiple systems into one has become an important trend in Process Systems Engineering research field since there is strong demand from the modern industries. In this study, a stage-wise superstructure-based method is proposed to synthesize a combined mass and heat exchange network (CM&HEN) which has two parts as the mass exchange network (MEN) and heat exchange network (HEN) involved. To express the pos-sible heat exchange requirements resulted from mass exchange operations, a so cal ed“indistinct HEN super-structure (IHS)”, which can contain the all potential matches between streams, is constructed at first. Then, a non-linear programming (NLP) mathematical model is established for the simultaneous synthesis and optimiza-tion of networks. Therein, the interaction between mass exchange and heat exchange is modeling formulated. The NLP model has later been examined using an example from literature, and the effectiveness of the proposed method has been demonstrated with the results.     

考虑非等温混合的能量集成多杂质水网络优化设计

提出了一种分步综合多杂质体系水网络和换热网络的新方法。对于水网络,考虑进入操作单元的新鲜水与回用水之间的非等温混合,确保流股间的直接热回收;对于换热网络,可以只考虑水网络中的新鲜水和回用水流股之间的换热匹配。采用无进化次数的改进粒子群算法对本文建立的多杂质体系水网络非线性模型和换热网络混合整数非线性模型进行求解。实例表明,与不考虑非等温混合时比较,考虑非等温混合时的最优网络结构更简单,且年度总费用要节省2.4%。因此,本文提出的方法在实际生产中有较好的可行性和有效性。     

Synthesis of indirect work exchange networks considering both isothermal and adiabatic process together with exergy analysis

In this paper, an efficient methodology for synthesizing the indirect work exchange networks (WEN) considering isothermal process and adiabatic process respectively based on transshipment model is first proposed. In contrast with superstructure method, the transshipment model is easier to obtain the minimum utility consumption taken as the objective function and more convenient for us to attain the optimal network configuration for further minimizing the number of units. Different from division of temperature intervals in heat exchange networks, different pressure intervals are gained according to the maximum compression/expansion ratio in consideration of operating principles of indirect work exchangers and the characteristics of no pressure constraints for stream matches. The presented approach for WEN synthesis is a linear programming model applied to the isothermal process, but for indirect work exchange networks with adiabatic process, a nonlinear programming model needs establishing. Additionally, temperatures should be regarded as decision variables limited to the range between inlet and outlet temperatures in each sub-network. The constructed transshipment model can be solved first to get the minimum utility consumption and further to determine the minimum number of units by merging the adjacent pressure intervals on the basis of the proposed merging methods, which is proved to be effective through exergy analysis at the level of units structures. Finally, two cases are calculated to confirm it is dramatically feasible and effective that the optimal WEN configuration can be gained by the proposed method.     

基于温度和热容流率同时变化的有分流换热网络弹性设计的研究

A new superstructure model of heat exchanger networks (HEN) with stream splits based on rangers of streams supply temperatures and heat capacity flow rates is presented. The simultaneous optimal mathematical model of flexible HEN synthesis is established too. Firstly, the streams with rangers of supply temperatures and/or the streams with the rangers of heat capacity flow rates are pretreated; Secondly, several rules are proposed to establish the superstructure model of HEN with splits and the simultaneous optimal mathematical model of flexible HEN; Thirdly, the improving genetic algorithm is applied to solve the mathematical model established at the second step effectively, and the original optimal structure of HEN based on the maximum operation limiting condition can be obtained easily; Finally, the rules of heat exchange unit merged and the heat load of heat exchanger relaxed are presented, the flexible configuration of HEN satisfied the operation condition between the upper and down bounds of supply temperature and heat capacity flow rates can be obtained based on the original optimal structure of HEN by means of these rules. A case study demonstrates the method presented in this paper is effective     

有分流换热网络的弹性设计-基于温度波动情形

提出了基于温度波动的有分流换热网络的超结构模型和同步优化的弹性设计方法。首先对于起始温度在一定范围内波动的物流进行预处理。即分段处理。然后建立换热网络同步优化的数学模型,最后对分段物流进行合并,并通过能量松弛方法得取满意一定弹性要求的换热网络结构。     

Simultaneous integration of water and energy in heat‐integrated water allocation networks

This article proposes a new methodology for simultaneous integration of water and energy in heat‐integrated water allocation networks (WAHEN). A novel disjunctive model is first developed to determine an optimal water allocation network (WAN) where water and energy are integrated in one step. Based on the optimal WAN, a detailed heat exchanger network (HEN) to satisfy the utility target is then synthesized. Although the final network structure is obtained through two steps, the targets of freshwater and utility are optimized simultaneously. The proposed method has specific advantages. First of all, it can capture a tradeoff among freshwater usage, utility consumption, and direct heat transfer by nonisothermal mixing. Second, it can greatly reduce the complexity of subsequent HEN design. Finally, it is effective for simultaneous water and energy integration in large‐scale WAHEN systems. The advantages and applicability of this new method are illustrated by three examples from literature. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2202–2214, 2015     

Design of heat exchanger network based on entransy theory

The heat exchanger network (HEN) synthesis problem based on entransy theory is analyzed. According to the characteristics of entransy representation of thermal potential energy, the entransy dissipation represents the irreversibility of the heat transfer process, the temperature difference determines the entransy dissipation, and four HEN design steps based on entransy theory are put forward. The present study shows how it is possible to set energy targets based on entransy and achieve them with a network of heat exchangers by an example of heat exchanger network design for four streams. In order to verify the correctness of the heat exchanger networks design method based on entransy theory, the synthesis of the HEN for the diesel hydrogenation unit is studied. Using the heat exchange networks design method based on entransy theory, the HEN obtained is consistent with energy targets. The entransy transfer efficiency of HEN based on entransy theory is 92.29%, higher than the entransy transfer efficiency of the maximum heat recovery network based on pinch technology.     

考虑本质安全的换热网络多目标优化

由于国内外重大化工事故的频发及化工行业节能降耗的需求日益迫切,研究本质更安全的换热网络多目标优化具有重要意义。采用评价指数的方法,对换热网络的本质安全易爆性、毒性、存量进行量化表征。采用数学规划法分别建立换热网络经济与本质安全易爆性、毒性、存量同步优化数学模型。采用归一化法构建经济和安全的目标函数。通过算例研究发现,考虑易爆性,倾向于不易爆流股间换热,减少易爆流股换热次数;考虑毒性,倾向于减少有毒流股流经换热器的次数;考虑存量倾向于减少换热网络的总存量。最后综合考虑易爆性、毒性、存量作为安全指标与经济同步优化,通过算例研究表明,多目标优化的最优换热网络在很大程度上取决于经济权重的选取。     

Step-wise synthesis of work exchange networks involving heat integration based on the transshipment model

Due to the deterioration of serious energy dilemma, energy-conservation and emission–reduction have been the strategic target in the past decades, thus people have identified the vital importance of higher energy efficiency and the influence of lower carbon development. Since work exchange network is a significant part of energy re-covery system, its optima design wil have dramatically significant effect on energy consumption reduction in chemical process system. With an extension of the developed transshipment model in isothermal process, a novel step-wise methodology for synthesis of direct work exchange network (WEN) in adiabatic process involv-ing heat integration is first proposed in this paper, where a nonlinear programming (NLP) model is formulated by regarding the minimum utility consumption as objective function and optimizing the initial WEN in accordance with the presented matching rules to get the optimized WEN configuration at first. Furthermore, we focus on the work exchange network synthesis with heat integration to attain the minimal total annual cost (TAC) with the introduction of heat-exchange equipment that is achieved by the following strategies in sequence:introducing heat-exchange equipment directly, adjusting the work quantity of the adjacent utility compressors or expanders, and approximating upper/lower pressure limits consequently to obtain considerable cost savings of expanders or compressors and work utility. Finally, a case taken from the literature is studied to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Synthesis of non-isothermal heat integrated water networks in chemical processes

This paper presents a new approach for the simultaneous synthesis and optimization of heat integrated water networks. A new superstructure for heat exchanger network (HEN) synthesis is proposed. The procedure is based on mixed integer non-linear mathematical programming (MINLP). Four relevant examples are presented to illustrate various aspects of the proposed approach.     

基于相对增益分析的换热网络旁路设计

提出一种考虑了可控性的换热网络旁路设计法。基于稳态模型增益的定量计算,推导换热网络稳态数学模型的求解过程,从可控性分析的角度逐一求解换热网络的非方相对增益矩阵,从中确定最优的旁路位置,使被控变量具有较高的可控性。突破相对增益矩阵仅用于控制配对的常规范畴,提出一种通过逐次求解换热网络非方相对增益矩阵优化选取最优旁路设置的方法,并给出了设置旁路的若干准则,以简化求算过程。分析稳态工作点变化后的情况,表明工况变化不影响上述得出的旁路设置。该法适用于大型复杂换热网络,满足生产控制要求,并能保证整个换热网络具有较高的可控性。以某常减压蒸馏装置脱盐前换热网络为例,验证方法的可行性和有效性。     

Floating pinch method for utility targeting in heat exchanger network (HEN)

Most of the established methods for utility targeting in a heat exchanger network (HEN) are mainly focusing on fixed stream conditions, where the flow rate, heat capacity, supply and target temperatures are fixed. However, in the process industries, the stream conditions (flow rates and temperatures) are not fixed. Therefore, the established HEN targeting methods cannot be directly applied to locate the hot and cold utility targets for HEN problem with varying flow rates and temperatures. To address this issue, a revised floating pinch method which uses binary variables to parameterise the stream locations on the composite curves, is presented in this work to identify the minimum utilities targets. The revised method simplify the earlier version of floating pinch method presented by Duran and Grossmann (1986) by avoiding the non-differentiability in the mathematical program. Two cases, one with fixed parameters while another with temperature-dependent properties and varying operating parameters are solved to illustrate the revised model.     

Prediction of maximum recoverable mechanical energy via work integration: A thermodynamic modeling and analysis approach

Thermal energy and mechanical energy are two common forms of energy consumed significantly in the process industries. While thermal energy can be effectively recovered using matured heat integration technologies, recovery of mechanical energy through work integration has not been fully explored. It is shown that work integration can be achieved through synthesizing work exchange networks (WENs), where work exchangers are operated in a batch mode, and compressors and expanders are operated in a continuous mode; this renders network synthesis a very sophisticated design task. It is greatly beneficial if the maximum amount of mechanical energy recoverable by a WEN can be determined prior to network design. In this article, we introduce a thermodynamic modeling and analysis method to identify accurately the maximum amount of recoverable mechanical energy of any process system of interest. The method is rigorous and general for target setting of mechanical energy recovery prior to WEN synthesis. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017     

多周期操作工况下换热网络的弹性设计

提出了基于专家系统的多周期换热网络的超结构形式及弹性设计方法。首先通过专家系统确定各周期操作工况下物流的分流及匹配禁止情况,在此基础上建立网络多周期操作工况下的超结构模型;然后用遗传算法对上述模型进行求解;最后用分解协调法对网络结构和匹配单元同时进行优化。该方法不仅能自动地合成多周期操作工况的换热网络最优流程结构,而且能同时满足网络在各操作工况下的各种工艺限制条件。最后,通过某个换热网络的最优合成设计,说明本方法的有效性和应用前景。     

Heat exchanger network cost optimization considering multiple utilities and different types of heat exchangers

Supertargeting based on composite curves (CC) is widely used to determine the optimum approach temperature (ΔT_min) that yields the minimum total cost for heat exchange networks (HEN). Supertargeting using CC has two key limitations. Firstly, the HEN area calculations are drastically simplified through the assumption that CC segments may be considered as pseudo-single hot and cold streams exchanging heat via only one exchanger that is governed by a single cost correlation. Secondly, the current Supertargeting approach of considering only one hot and one cold utility level may lead to a crude estimation of the total HEN cost and the optimum ΔT_min. This work presents the stream temperature vs. enthalpy plot supertargeting (STEPS) method that overcomes these limitations. This paper proves that supertargeting based on CC can lead to up to 50% error in the total cost target and poor ΔT_min estimations.     

基于专家系统和遗传算法的换热网络的建模和优化

A new superstructure from of heat exchanger networks(HEN) is proposed based on expert system (ES). The new superstructure from is combined with the practical engineering.The different investment cost formula for different heat exchanger is also presented based on ES.The mathematical model for the simultaneous optimization of network configuration is established and solved by a genetic algorithm.This method can deal with larger scale HEN synthesis and the optimal HEN configuration is obtained automatically.Finally,a case study is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.     

具有旁路控制的换热网络结构可控性分析

换热网络的旁路控制是调节物流出口温度、节能降耗的有效方法,旁路位置的确定往往是实现最优控制的关键。因此,从控制理论的角度,对比分析具有旁路控制的换热网络结构可控性等结构特性。首先,基于图论的概念通过换热网络结构模型,求取其状态结构图以及状态结构阵。然后根据求解结果分析网络的结构可控性以及控制结构的强度与冗余度。通过实例对比分析证明结构可控性分析的方法从控制理论的角度分析论证了换热网络旁路优化设计结果的可控性,并且方法从换热网络结构模型入手简化了求解过程,为换热网络的旁路优化控制提供一种新的思路。     

An area targeting algorithm for the synthesis of heat exchanger networks

A new algorithm for the prediction of area requirements in heat exchanger networks (HEN) is presented. The method uses a diverse pinch diagram as a basis, similar to the one suggested by Rev and Fonyo (Chemical Engineering Science, 46 (7), 1623). A numerical application for a problem involving streams with significant differences in their heat transfer coefficient values is included to show how the proposed algorithm provides better estimates for minimum area requirements in HEN than the widely-used Bath formula and the algorithm by Rev and Fonyo.     

超结构法分步综合热集成的质量交换网络

质量交换网络(MEN)和热交换网络(HEN)之间有较强的交互作用,传统的夹点技术很难考虑两个网络之间的相互作用。针对这一问题,采用基于分级超结构的数学规划法分步综合热集成的MEN。该方法首先分析了连接两个网络的关键参数,将其离散化处理后组合成多个备选方案,然后对每个备选方案采用分步策略。第一步,用超结构法以总年度费用(TAC)最小为目标综合MEN;第二步,从第一步的结果中抽提出HEN综合所需数据,通过求解基于HEN超结构的非线性规划(NLP)模型,得到优化的HEN总年度费用。加和两步中的TAC结果得到该方案下两个网络的总费用,通过比较所有备选方案下的总网络TAC,以总网络TAC最小的方案为最佳方案。与文献中例子比较,表明本方法具有更好的可行性和有效性。     

Design of flexible heat exchanger network for multi-period operation

Heat exchanger networks (HENs) increase heat recovery from industrial processes by matching hot and cold streams to exchange heat and reducing utility consumption. The design of HENs is a very complex task which generally involves mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP).This work evaluates and critically compares existing HEN design methods. It then presents a systematic methodology in the design of HENs under multiple periods of operation. The model presented in this work is a superstructure-based MINLP model which minimises the total annualised cost containing heat exchanger area cost and utility costs. The model is based on the superstructure by Yee and Grossmann [1990. Simultaneous optimisation models for heat integration—II, heat exchanger network synthesis. Computer & Chemical Engineering 14(10), 1165-1184], which was later formulated for multiple periods by Aaltola [2002. Simultaneous synthesis of flexible heat exchanger network. Applied Thermal Engineering 22, 907-918]. It includes a multi-period simultaneous MINLP model to design the HEN structure, and an NLP model to improve the solution and allow for non-isothermal mixing. Modifications to Aaltola's model include the use of maximum area per period in the area cost calculation of the MINLP objective function, and the removal of slack variables and weighed parameters from the existing NLP improvement model.The new model has been applied to one industrial case study, demonstrating that the new combined MINLP-NLP model can obtain better solutions by not relying on the average area assumption in the MINLP stage.