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Non‐continuous and variable rate processes: optimisation for energy use
Author(s) -
Morrison Andrew S.,
Walmsley Michael R. W.,
Neale James R.,
Burrell Christopher P.,
Kamp Peter J. J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.348
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1932-2143
pISSN - 1932-2135
DOI - 10.1002/apj.69
Subject(s) - computer science , energy (signal processing) , variable (mathematics) , adaptation (eye) , industrial engineering , continuous variable , software , process engineering , mathematical optimization , engineering , mathematics , mathematical analysis , statistics , physics , optics , programming language
The need to develop new and improved ways of reducing energy use and increasing energy intensity in industrial processes is currently a major issue in New Zealand. Little attention has been given to optimisation of non‐continuous processes in the past due to their complexity, yet they remain an essential and often energy‐intensive component of many industrial sites. Novel models based on pinch analysis that aid in minimising utility usage have been constructed here through the adaptation of proven continuous techniques. The knowledge has been integrated into a user‐friendly software package, and allows the optimisation of processes under variable operating rates and batch conditions. An example problem demonstrates the improvements in energy use that can be gained when using these techniques to analyse non‐continuous data. A comparison with results achieved using a pseudo‐continuous method shows that the method described can provide simultaneous reductions in capital and operating costs. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.