Optimize a licensor`s design using pinch technology

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Hydrocarbon Processing

OSTI ID:231173

Trivedi, K K ^[1]; Pang, K H ^[2]; O`Young, D L ^[3]; Klavers, H W ^[4]; Linnhoff, B ^[5]

---

1. Brown and Root Petroleum and Chemicals, Alhambra, CA (United States)
2. California Polytechnic Univ., Pomona, CA (United States)
3. Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Mizushima (Japan)
4. Linnhoff March Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
5. Linnhoff March International, Cheshire (United Kingdom)

A procedure has been developed that uses pinch technology to optimize a licensor`s design for complex processes with many utilities and unit operations. The procedure includes a method to set the marginal cost for various utility levels. It also illustrates how to use composite and grand composite curves to set the level and load of various utilities. In addition, the method optimizes distillation columns using the concepts of column grand composite curves. For low-temperature processes, it uses the concepts of exergy analysis and exergy grand composite curves to optimize a refrigeration system. Temperatures and pressures of utility levels for a process vary considerably. For example, temperatures can vary from cryogenic conditions in one section of the plant to very high temperatures in another section. Integration of such complex processes is very difficult and no systematic procedures exist in literature. This procedure finds the optimal value of {Delta}T{sub min} without designing the heat exchanger network. The procedure gives a ``birds-eye view`` of the solution space by exploring a range of {Delta}T{sub min} values. The procedure is simple and easy to implement as illustrated by a case study. Further, the calculated optimum is justified as the targeting methods use thermodynamic principles. The new procedure is applied to optimize a state-of-the-art ethylene process design. Targets obtained using the procedure indicate a scope of 19% energy savings for the whole plant. The final optimized design for the whole plant achieves an energy savings of 12%.

• OSTI ID: 231173
• Journal Information: Hydrocarbon Processing, Journal Name: Hydrocarbon Processing Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 75; ISSN HYPRAX; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CALCULATION METHODS
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ETHYLENE
HEAT RECOVERY
OPTIMIZATION
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
PRODUCTION
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
STEAM