Adeniyi Isafiade

By Adeniyi Jide Isafiade and Alireza Bahadori

This chapter presents a new synthesis method for designing flexible heat-exchanger networks. The methodology used involves a two-step approach: In the first step, a multi-period network is designed for a large number of critical operating periods using a finite set of operating points which lie within the uncertain parameter range, while considering the impact of potential fluctuations in periodic durations of each of the chosen critical points on the network. In the second step, the flexibility of the resulting multi-period network of the first step is tested using very large, randomly generated set of finite potential operating points together with their periodic durations. The key criteria used in determining the finite set of operating points that would participate in the initial multi-period network synthesis of the first step are the nominal operating points, the extreme operating points in terms of heat-load requirements as well as their length of periods. This implies that the resulting flexible network can feasibly transfer heat irrespective of possible fluctuations in periodic durations for any of the potential process-operating points. The solutions obtained using the new approach compare favourably with those in the literature.

Part of the book: Heat Exchangers