Integrating renewables into multi-period heat exchanger network synthesis considering economics and environmental impact

This paper presents a further development of synthesis methods that considers economics and environmental impact in the integration of renewable energy into the optimisation of heat exchanger networks involving multiple periods of operations and multiple options of utilities. The multi-period process stream parameters, and those of the utility sources are integrated in a systematic approach using an expanded version of the simplified stage-wise superstructure multi-period model. Two examples were used to demonstrate the benefits of the expanded synthesis method and the quality of solutions obtained were judged by representation on a Pareto curve and by the use of a modified goal solution method. It was found that various combinations of utility sources were selected for use at various periods/seasons of operations, while utilities from solar photovoltaic were not selected for use at any of the periods/season of operation due to its relatively high cost and limited periods of availability.