Costs vs. Flexibility of Process Heat Recovery Solutions Considering Short-Term Process Variability and Uncertain Long-Term Development

To significantly decrease fossil carbon emissions from oil refineries, a combination of climate mitigation options will be necessary, with potential including energy efficiency, capture and storage/utilization, biomass integration electrification. Since existing refinery processes as well many the new are characterized by large heating demands, but also offer opportunities for process excess heat recovery, plays major role efficient operation after implementation such measures. Consequently, recovery systems should not only able to handle current operating conditions, allow flexibility towards possible future developments. Evaluation measures both these perspectives enables more accurate screening selection alternative design options. This paper proposes approach assessing trade-off between total annual cost exchanger network in short-as long-term perspectives. The assessment is based on evaluation ratio (similar conventional index) determine range which conditions may vary while at same time achieving feasible operation. method further identification critical points achieve pre-defined targets. followed optimization properties (i.e., areas) that ensured costs minimized representative conditions. procedure repeated different targets, resulting curve shows function desired ratio. illustrated an example representing retrofit refinery. Finally, illustrates way evaluate penalty if optimized one point then operated under changed presented provides knowledge about short-term variations considering changes due development.