WORK AND HEAT EXCHANGER NETWORK SYNTHESIS: A NEW SUPERSTRUCTURE AND DEGREES OF FREEDOM ANALYSIS OF DERIVED MODEL

Abstract

In the context of achieving higher efficiencies in industrial process, work and heat exchanger network (WHEN) can play an important role since it improves energy recovery. One way to make WHEN synthesis, which is a topic of current research interest, is via superstructure-based mathematical optimization. Although superstructure-based mathematical optimization has shown its value in WHEN synthesis in the past few years, its optimization results deeply depend on the quality of the superstructure and its derived model. Degrees of freedom analysis is an interesting technique to evaluate a model, quantify the number of decision variables to be manipulated and measure the size of the search space. In this work, we present a new superstructure and a new model for WHEN synthesis that incorporates the new concept of stream pseudo-identity and considering non-isothermal mixing to extend the search space. A degrees of freedom analysis is performed, and the model is compared to previous models reported in the literature.