| Abstract: | Thermal integration and process optimization . The Pinch method for optimization of thermal integration of chemical plant has been widely accepted in recent years. Serving initially only as an aid in the design of energetically optimized heat exchanger networks, the method was developed in the course of time with regard to the following questions: optimization of heating and cooling systems; simultaneous optimization of energy and investment costs; operability, start-up and shut-down behaviour; inclusion of heat engines; optimization of old plant; and process optimization. The fundamentals of the Pinch method are summarized and further developments concerning development of the method for simultaneous optimization of energy and capital costs are presented. Optimization of the BASF butadiene process and the mutual interaction of process and energy system are then presented as practical applications. |
