A new tool for simultaneous targeting and design of heat exchanger networks

Abstract

Pinch analysis is a well-established methodology for the design of processes to achieve the minimum utility requirements. The Composite Curves (CCs) is a popular pinch analysis tool to determine the minimum energy targets. An efficient alternative to CCs is a numerical technique known as Problem Table Algorithm (PTA). However, the PTA does not fully show individual hot and cold streams heat cascade profile and cannot be used for Heat Exchanger Network (HEN) design. This paper introduces the Segregated Problem Table Algorithm (SePTA) as a new and versatile numerical tool for simultaneous targeting and design of a HEN. SePTA shows profiles of heat cascade across temperature intervals for individual hot and cold streams, and can be used to simultaneously locate pinch points, calculate utility targets and perform SePTA Heat Allocation (SHA). The SHA can be represented on a new SePTA Network Diagram (SND) that graphically shows a heat exchanger network together with the amount of heat exchange on a temperature interval scale. The new method is illustrated using a case study.