Integrated synthesis of process and heat exchanger networks: algorithmic approach

Methods exist for algorithmic process-network synthesis (PNS) as well as fo r heat-exchanger-network synthesis (HENS); nevertheless, such methods canno t be easily integrated for a variety of reasons. For instance, both PNS and HENS are complex problems; thus, their combination is naturally even more complex. Our previous effort to establish the combinatorial foundation of P NS has yielded a highly effective method involving the P-graph representati on; the present approach to the integrated synthesis of process and heat-ex changer networks resorts mainly to hP-graphs adapted from the P-graphs in c onjunction with the appropriate selection of inherent intervals of temperat ure range. This work focuses on the establishment of an appropriate techniq ue for the integration of PNS and HENS. The resultant technique is largely based on combinatorics and combinatorial algorithms. The efficacy of the pr oposed approach is illustrated by solving an industrial problem. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.