Supply-Based Superstructure Synthesis of Heat and Mass Exchange Networks.

Abstract

A new simulation mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) approach to heat exchange network synthesis (HENS) and mass exchange network synthesis (MENS) is presented. This supply base superstructure (SBS) approach uses the supply temperatures /compositions of all the streams (including utilities) represent in synthesis problem to define heat /mass exchange superstructure interval. The intermediate temperatures/compositions are variables used In the optimization of the network total annual cost (TAC). The ability of each stream to exchange heat/mass in any interval in the SBS is subject to thermodynamic/mass transfer feasibility. The paper represents the mathematical formulations for optimizing the TAC for HENS and MENS. The SBS synthesis technique has been applied to nine literature problems involving both HENS and MENS. The solutions obtained are in the same rage as those in the literature, with one solution been the lowest of all.