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

Abstract

This paper compares the approach and results of all the interval – based superstructure method for the synthesis of the optimal heat and mass exchange networks. Differences I approach are largely due to how the interval boundaries are defined. Approaches based on the stagewise superstructure simply define the number of intervals, whereas the interval based superstructures define the interval boundaries by stream supply or target temperatures/compositions. Comparison of results over a rage to heat and mass exchange network example shows that not one of these approaches gives the solution with the lowest total annual cost for more than the few of the examples. Approaches that used more of the intervals generated tend to give better solutions. The non –linear sub optimisation step of the heat exchanger network stagewise superstructure gives the largest number of best solutions.