A combinatorial method for the automatic generation of multiple, near-optimal heat exchanger networks

A method for the automatic synthesis of heat-exchanger networks (HENs) is described here. The method, named COMBINET, is based on combinatorial procedures, no pinch rules are used. The main idea is to find economic HENs. The procedure, however, is well suited for optimizing energy recovery, minimizing heat-exchanger area, minimizing number of matches, etc., The program is capable of storing a specified number of the best HENs from the screening procedure, thereby allowing the user to evaluate which ones best satisfy other requirements. A number of cases from the open classical literature have been studied and the results compared. The studies have shown that in each case a number of different configurations exist that are almost equally good concerning economics, indicating the presence of a flat economic optimum. In six out of a total of nine cases investigated, COMBINET did find several networks which all were better than the hitherto best network reported.