A Method for Flexible Heat Exchanger Network Design under Severe Operation Uncertainty

Abstract

Most investigations on heat exchanger network (HEN) synthesis which plays an important role in improving the efficiency of industrial plants, focus on deterministic conditions whereas operational flexibility and feasibility are less concerned. In the real industrial world, each system experiences various disturbances due to changes in stream temperature, flow rate, and other uncertain factors. An approach for flexible HEN synthesis under severe operation uncertainty is proposed, which is represented by the Probability bounds analysis (PBA) theory and is sampled by a double-loop sampling method. A case study, which generates a better solution with less total annual cost and good flexibility under severe uncertainty, demonstrates the capability of this simplified approach.

A grid-based facilities allocation approach with safety and optimal heat exchanger networks synthesis

“…Among other additional issues, the operation of heat exchangers has been included in the optimization model to provide flexibility and resilience in HEN designs (Zheng et al, 2013). Considering that conditions in real plants might be different to those used during the design step, optimal operation of HEN becomes an excellent complement to the typical synthesis problem (Aguilera and Marchetti, 1998;Glemmestad et al, 1999;Rodera et al, 2003;Lersbamrungsuk et al, 2008;Jäschke and Skogestad, 2014).…”

Flexibility index of black‐box models with parameter uncertainty through derivative‐free optimization

“…Flexibility analysis has been proposed as a quantitative framework for measuring the capability of feasible operation of a given design over a range of values for the uncertain parameters 1 . Flexibility has been studied over three decades and as an important property that must be incorporated into a design, and it has been applied in several industrially inspired case studies, 2‐5 such as process synthesis of air separation, heat exchanger network design, and supply chain networks. For reviews of previous work on flexibility analysis, see references 6‐9 …”

A Robust Decomposition Methodology for Synthesis of Flexible Processes with Many Uncertainty Parameters – Application to HEN Synthesis

“…18 Zheng et al proposed an approach for flexible HEN synthesis under severe operation uncertainty, represented by the probability bounds analysis theory and sampled with a double-loop sampling method. 19 Li et al presented a two-step approach for the synthesis of flexible HENs. 20 An example with 11 uncertain parameters was solved by applying a stepwise optimization method also suitable for nonconvex network problems.…”