Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.31, No.2, 265-269, 2008
Exergoeconomic analysis of heat exchanger networks for optimum minimum approach temperature
Heat exchanger networks (HENs) design for optimum minimum approach temperature is presented using exergoeconomic analysis. Cold and hot utilities are integrated with process streams into T-H plots, forming balanced composite curves, based on pinch technology. Exergy consumption of heat transfer in HENs is calculated using subsection integral on balanced composite curves. Exergy consumption expense substitutes utilities cost as operating cost. The objective function based on exergoeconomics is proposed, which determines the optimum minimum approach temperature of HENs. Numerical results in the cases demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach. Some measures of decreasing energy consumption are disclosed in the dealing process as well.