Off-campus UMass Amherst users: To download dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your UMass Amherst user name and password.
Non-UMass Amherst users, please click the view more button below to purchase a copy of this dissertation from Proquest.
(Some titles may also be available free of charge in our Open Access Dissertation Collection, so please check there first.)
HEAT EXCHANGER NETWORK DESIGN AND OPERABILITY EVALUATION (OPTIMIZATION)
Abstract
The previous studies of heat exchanger network design have assumed that the process flows and temperatures are fixed and have focused on generating new networks. It was found that optimization of the flows and temperatures has a much greater impact on the profitability of a process than generating networks does. A generalized-network model was developed and computer coded which enables optimization prior to and completely separate from the network generation. A new network design method was developed which enables one to visualize the number of exchangers, the exchanger matches, the utilities usage, the exchanger duties, and the temperature driving forces all in one diagram. It was also found that sometimes pressure shifting columns saves energy but may not save money. Since heat exchanger network design leads to more coupling in the process flowsheet, an operability analysis is required. It was found that heat exchanger networks are operable when each heat exchanger has a by-pass and physically realistic disturbances are used. An approximate criterion was developed which indicates when heat exchangers will not be operable and stream splitting should be used.
Subject Area
Chemical engineering
Recommended Citation
TERRILL, DANIEL LATHAM, "HEAT EXCHANGER NETWORK DESIGN AND OPERABILITY EVALUATION (OPTIMIZATION)" (1985). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI8517158.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI8517158