Relatively Linear Approach for Designing Heat Exchanger Networks with the Possibility of Employing Internal Utility Exchangers

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

10.22034/ijche.2023.395715.1308

Abstract

This research presents a simple hybrid approach to tackle heat exchanger network (HEN) synthesis problems. The formulations governing these issues are inherently non-convex non-linear models, which are challenging to solve. In this new method, structural variables were managed by genetic algorithm (GA) to reach optimal networks. While the optimization of continuous variables was done in the first section by a linear programming (LP) model and in the second part by a correction procedure (COP). In production structures by the GA, to increase the search space, the possibility of utilizing internal utility exchangers was also provided. In this way, the complex models governing the HEN synthesis problems were transformed into a straightforward and relatively linear hybrid strategy, which increased the likelihood of reaching optimal solutions. Despite the simplicity of the proposed approach, implementing this method in a case study demonstrated its high efficiency in generating new solutions and reducing the total annual cost of the network by 1.21%.

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Iranian Chemical Engineering Journal

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 June 2023

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