Design optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers sizing with heat transfer enhancement

Abstract

Heat transfer enhancement (HTE) is an efficient technology to improve the performance of shell and tube heat exchangers (STHEs). While there exist many commercial software packages, heat exchanger design still highly depends on users’ experiences, resulting in long computing time and inferior solutions. Therefore, a systematic optimization methodology is required in order to achieve an efficient and accurate design solution. This paper presents a generalized disjunctive programming (GDP) model for the optimization of STHE design. It is formulated as a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem, involving selection for 12 technology combinations (four tube-side techniques, three shell-side techniques), and all discrete decisions for each selection are modeled by disjunctions. The model is then applied to minimize the total capital cost. Both global optimization solver BARON, and general MINLP solver DICOPT are tested. The results show that the developed method provides a better design solution compared with conventional STHE design procedures.