ESTIMATION OF THE INSTALLED COST OF HEAT-EXCHANGER NETWORKS

Much progress has been made in the development of synthesis methods fo r heat exchanger networks through the use of targeting procedures. Suc h advances include the development of pinch technology, the applicatio n of mathematical programming techniques and the use of the A heurist ic search procedure based on artificial intelligence by the present au thors. Networks of substantially different topologies can be produced by the alternative synthesis procedures, but the methods used for cost estimation typically rely heavily on a simple area exponent calculati on. As substantial capital costs are incurred for piping a simplified method is proposed which does allow for piping costs and so may be use d to discriminate more accurately between alternative networks. The us e of this procedure is illustrated by using some networks from publish ed problems.