Graphical method for simultaneous optimization of the hydrogen recovery and purification feed

Abstract

In this work, a graphical method is developed for optimizing the purification recovery and feed simultaneously. Based on the hydrogen network integration, the effect of the hydrogen recovery on the fresh hydrogen consumption and the pinch location is analyzed systematically. The fresh hydrogen savings (or Hydrogen Utility Savings, HUS) versus R diagram is constructed to identify the variation trend of the HUS and pinch along hydrogen recovery, as well as the limiting hydrogen recovery, optimal hydrogen recovery and the optimal HUS. Furthermore, the interaction between the purification feed purity (PFP) and hydrogen recovery is studied, the variation trend of the optimal PFP, limiting PFP and the corresponding HUS along the hydrogen recovery are plotted in the same quantitative diagram. The PFP and hydrogen recovery are optimized simultaneously, together with the minimum fresh hydrogen consumption and pinch determined. The case study shows that the proposed method can identify the optimal hydrogen recovery, optimal purification feed purity, optimal HUS and the pinch accurately and conveniently.