Parameter Estimation of Fouling Models in Crude Preheat Trains

Heat Transfer Engineering, Volume 34, Issue 8-9, 2013, pages 683-691
Parameter Estimation of Fouling Models in Crude Preheat Trains
Lopes Borges b, Eduardo Mach Queiroz b, Fernando Luiz Pellegrini Pessoa b, Fábio dos Santos Liporace c & Sergio Gregório de Oliveira c
a Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
b Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
c Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., Research and Development Center Leopoldo Américo Miguez de Mello, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Abstract
Because many fouling mitigation techniques depend on the capacity of predicting fouling rates, the identification of accurate fouling rate models is important. Crude fouling rates are usually evaluated through empirical or semiempirical models. In both approaches, certain parameters must be determined through laboratory or process data. Authors propose an analysis of the parameter estimation problem involving fouling rate models.
The proposed method is described through the development of a routine called HEATMODEL. The study focuses on the obstacles associated with the search for an optimal set of parameters of the Ebert and Panchal models and its variants. The optimization problem presents several elements which complicate the utilization of traditional algorithms. Authors compare the performance of a conventional optimization algorithm (Simplex) a hybrid genetic algorithm using actual data from a Brazilian refinery.
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