Heat integration by pinch-point design method

ABSTRACT In view of today's economic conditions chemical processes are operated or designed on the basis of optimum energy consumption. Thus primarily heat integration studies are undertaken and the design of the heat exchanger networks has entered into a new phase with the introduction of the pinch-point concept. In this study, it is aimed at designing heat exchanger networks by the use of pinch-point design method, which is one of the significant heat integration methods. In the presentation of the work various theoretical approaches regarding the pinch-point design method are discussed, and a new "Improved Problem Algorithm Table" developed for the application of the design is introduced. Taking into account the scope of design in actual processes Visual Basic 3.0 programming language is used to develop the computer code called DarboTEK. This computer code can be used both in determining the minimum energy and area targets of a new plant to be constructed, and in making necessary design alterations in an already existing plant. The crude petroleum unit in the TÜPRAŞ refinery at îzmit has been selected to show the applicability of the computer code developed to a real process, and as a result an original application has been accomplished. The heat integration study carried out on the crude petroleum unit shows that if a capital of 3576627 $ is invested, the investment payback period is 1.7 years on the basis of the energy conservation achieved. Investment need is high, it is significant that it can be paid back by energy conservation in a reasonable period oftime. Keywords: Heat integration, heat exchanger networks, pinch-point, cost, software. XI