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Optimisation of heat exchanger network cleaning schedules: incorporating uncertainty in fouling and cleaning model parameters

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Al Ismaili, R 
Lee, MW 
Wilson, DI 
Vassiliadis, VS 

Abstract

The optimisation of the cleaning schedule in heat exchanger networks (HENs) subject to fouling is presented in which the impact of parametric uncertainty is considered. This work is based on the realisation that these HEN cleaning scheduling problems are multistage mixed-integer optimal control problems (MIOCPs) in which the controls, i.e. cleaning actions, exhibit bang-bang behaviour as they occur linearly in the system equations. A multiple scenario feasible path MIOCP approach is proposed, whereby many scenarios of the HEN multiperiod problem are stacked, sharing the same control actions. This is implemented on a 10 unit and a 25 unit HEN case studies representing crude oil refinery preheat trains (PHTs). Results show that there is a large difference in financial performance for the deterministic case versus the parametric uncertainty problem and hence it is vital that uncertainty be taken into account during the optimisation of schedules for HEN maintenance problems.

Description

Keywords

Optimal control problem, Bang-bang control, Fouling, Parametric uncertainty

Journal Title

Computers and Chemical Engineering

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0098-1354
1873-4375

Volume Title

121

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/D50306X/1)
This research was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education in the Sultanate of Oman and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).