(229f) Applications of Pinch Analysis and Mathematical Programming Methods for Synthesizing Non-Isothermal Water Networks

Processes industries consume large amounts of natural resources and generate substantial amounts of waste/emissions within the environment. Consequently, the important issues and challenges within the process industries are the rational usages of raw materials, water and energy, pollution prevention, minimization of waste generation, and achieving the profitability and sustainability of industrial processes [1, 2]. In order to successfully address these challenges systematic methods [3], and computer-aided tools can be applied during the syntheses and operations of industrial processes. Over recent decades there have been an increasing number of applications regarding systematic methods based on pinch analysis and mathematical programming in order to minimize water/energy usage and wastewater generation within the manufacturing sector. In early studies these methods were only applied for heat or water integration. However, over recent years water and heat integration within  process water networks have been performed simultaneously [4].

This paper presents recent advancements and applications of pinch analysis and mathematical programming methods for the synthesizing of non-isothermal water networks through illustrative case studies. Case studies of non-isothermal water networks reported in the literature are of different complexities, including a network of water-using units, a network of wastewater treatment units, an integrated network of process water-using and wastewater treatment units, single and multiple contaminants, pinched and threshold problems, etc. [5]. Those problems have been solved using different synthesis concepts, tools and solution strategies. The main goal of this paper is to present and discuss the current state of the art of pinch analysis and mathematical programming methods for solving the synthesis problems of non-isothermal water networks of different complexities, and highlighting the challenges and possible further directions within this field.

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the SCOPES 2013-2016 (Scientific Co-operation between Eastern Europe and Switzerland) joint research project (CAPE-EWWR: IZ73Z0_152622/1).

References:

[1] El-Halwagi MM. Sustainable Design Through Process Integration, Fundamentals and Applications to Industrial Pollution Prevention, Resource Conservation, and Profitability Enhancement. Oxford, England: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2012.

[2] Klemeš JJ. Handbook of Process Integration (PI): Minimisation of energy and water use, waste and emissions. Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing Limited; 2013.

[3] Biegler LT, Grossmann IE, Westerberg AW. Systematic methods of chemical process design. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall; 1997.

[4] Klemeš JJ, Varbanov PS, Kravanja Z. Recent developments in Process Integration. Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 2013;91:2037.

[5] Ahmetović E, Ibrić N, Kravanja Z. Optimal design for heat-integrated water-using and wastewater treatment networks. Applied Energy. 2014;135:791.