Energy Savings in the Heat Exchanger Network of an Oil Refinery Pre-Heat Train Unit Using a Path’s Combination at Different HRAT Values

Abstract

Conservation of energy usage is essential in chemical process plants due to the expanded energy users and demands alongside the carry-on hike of energy prices. This study analyzed the performance of energy savings in a heat exchanger network (HEN). It is based on decreasing utility usage while increasing process-to-process heat exchange in HEN using a path combination approach at different heat recovery approach temperatures (HRATs). The approach generates different combined path options for heat shifting from utilities to exchangers in a HEN. In terms of cost targeting, the optimal HRAT in a HEN is determined for each path’s combination option. The study focused on the HEN of crude oil preheat trains. Shifting heat load between utilities implies adding and subtracting loads to and from exchangers in a HEN. Therefore, a minor retrofit to compensate for the heat transfer area is required for some HEN exchangers. The optimum HRAT corresponding to the lowest total cost was determined for each option and ranged between 8 °C and 14 °C. Moreover, two out of five options in HEN with low capital investment and a short payback period were found to be promising.

Reducing Energy Consumption in the Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether (DME) from Methanol Dehydration by Modifying Heat Transfer Unit Using Aspen HYSYS

“…In a utility, energy conservation can be achieved by efficient use of energy which is associated with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption of conventional energy sources that affect production costs. Therefore, heat exchanger networks that often result in a trade-off between equipment and operating costs may represent the best design for energy efficiency in chemical process plants [16].…”