Rigorous algorithmic targeting methods for hydrogen networks—Part I: Systems with no hydrogen purification

Chemical Engineering Science, Volume 66, Issue 5, 1 March 2011, Pages 813–820

Rigorous algorithmic targeting methods for hydrogen networks—Part I: Systems with no hydrogen purification

Zu-Wei Liao^{a, b},

Gang Rong^a,

Jing-Dai Wang^b,

Yong-Rong Yang^b

^a State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China

^b State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China

Abstract

One of the key strategies for reducing refinery operating costs is hydrogen utility consumption minimization. Process integration techniques have been widely accepted as an effective tool for reducing hydrogen consumption.

A number of pinch based conceptual methods have been developed. Applying the pinch analysis is simpler than solving the mathematical model. However, the relationship between the pinch simplification and the mathematical model has seldom been addressed. Furthermore, existing pinch analysis paid little attention to the rare but realistic cases of threshold problem. Here, the original mathematical model is associated with the pinch concept by proving simplified equivalent formulations. A mathematically rigorous systematic targeting approach is then obtained by mathematical deduction. The proposed method combines pinch insight with a rigorous mathematical optimization technique. The proposed method addresses both threshold and pinch problems.

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