Enhanced superstructure optimization for heat exchanger network synthesis using deterministic approach

Heat Exchanger Network (HEN) synthesis is primarily formulated as a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem based on method of stage-wise superstructure (SWS). Approaches to obtain an optimal HEN configuration can adopt deterministic algorithms. But, large scale problem, it difficult solve due the complexities arisen from nonlinearities SWS. To overcome model nonlinearities, stochastic algorithms and meta-heuristic approaches have been proposed in literature tackle problem. However, reaches near-optimal series solutions, which are obtained by execution many computational procedures with extensive time resource, global optimum will not be guaranteed only randomly generated results. In this paper, enhanced SWS approach proposed, new temperature heat duty constraints updated reduce redundant combinations avoid conflicted calculation non-isothermal mixing energy balance. The present also extended allow flexible stream splitting for practical applications. Then, deterministic-based solver (GAMS/BARON) applied solving three case studies. results show that provide cost-efficient solutions lower TAC than using existing