Cost-optimal operation of heat exchanger network considering pressure drop constraints

Considerable research effort has been reported in cost-optimal operation of heat exchanger network. However, most of them neglect the pressure drop influence and assume constant film heat transfer coefficients. Pressure drop of streams are important influencing factors for the performance of heat exchanger network operation. In this paper, a general cost-optimal operation model considering pressure drop constraints and removing the assumption of constant film heat transfer coefficients is proposed. It is necessary to determine the pumping power cost required as part of operating cost function. The extended model is applied to one example taken from previous research, and the results prove that the proposed method can obtain more real optimization results for HEN operational optimization problems.