Synthesis of batch heat exchanger networks utilizing a match ranking matrix

•The match ranking matrix supports heat exchanger network synthesis for batch processes.•Streams with large heat exchange potential are preferred for matching.•Iteration steps during economic optimization of the network are reduced.•The new development is compared to existing methods employing a literature example.

Direct heat exchanger network synthesis for continuous processes based on pinch methodologies benefits from its intuitiveness and simplicity. The challenge in synthesizing direct heat exchanger networks in batch processes is to handle many small heat streams to form an economic heat exchanger network. In this publication, a new approach for synthesis of direct heat exchanger networks is presented and compared to existing approaches described in literature. Within the new approach a match ranking matrix is utilized to prioritize stream combinations which exhibit the largest potential for cost effective installation instead of matching the streams by their temperature. Thereby, possible loss of heat integration potential is accepted. As a result, the following optimization of the heat exchanger network takes less iteration steps compared to stream matching by temperatures. The approach is applied to an example process to show its applicability.