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Pinch Technology: Basics for
Beginners
Introduction
While oil prices continue to climb, energy conservation remains the
prime concern for many process industries. The challenge every process engineer is faced
with is to seek answers to questions related to their process energy patterns. A few of
the frequently asked questions are:
1. Are the existing processes as energy
efficient as they should be?
2. How can new projects be evaluated with respect to their energy requirements?
3. What changes can be made to increase the energy efficiency without incurring
any cost?
4. What investments can be made to improve energy efficiency?
5. What is the most appropriate utility mix for the process?
6. How to put energy efficiency and other targets like reducing emissions,
increasing plant capacities, improve product qualities etc, into a one coherent strategic
plan for the overall site? |
All of these questions and more can be answered with a full
understanding of Pinch Technology and an awareness of the available tools
for applying it in a practical way. This article aims to provide the basic knowledge of
the concepts in pinch technology and how they have been be applied across a wide range of
process industries.
The articles comprises of following six sections:
- What is Pinch Technology?
- Meaning of the Term Pinch Technology
- Basis of Pinch Technology
- Objectives of Pinch Analysis
- A Simple Example of Process Integration by Pinch Analysis
- Development of Pinch Technology Approach
- Areas of Applications of Pinch Technology
2. Basic Concepts of Pinch Analysis Composite Curves
DTmin and Pinch Point
Grand Composite Curve
Energy Cost, Capital Cost, and Total Cost Targeting
Energy Cost and Capital Cost Trade-Off
Plus/Minus Principle of Process Modification
Appropriate Placement Principles for Key Process Equipments
Total Site Analysis
3. Steps of Pinch AnalysisIdentification of Hot, Cold, and Utility Streams in the Process
Thermal Data Extraction for Process and Utility Streams
Selection of Initial DTmin Value
Construction of Composite Curves and Grand Composite Curve
Estimation of Minimum Energy Cost Targets
Estimation of Heat Exchanger Network Capital Cost Targets
Estimation of Optimum DTmin Value
Estimation of Practical Targets for HEN Design
Design of Heat Exchanger Network (HEN)
4. Benefits and Applications of Pinch TechnologyGeneral Process Improvements
Industrial Applications
5. The Future Outlook Of Pinch TechnologyRegional Energy Analysis
Total Site Analysis
Network Pinch
Top Level Analysis
Combined Heat and Power Optimisation
Water Pinch
Hydrogen Pinch
6. Conclusions, References, and Web LinksConclusions
References
Web links
What is Pinch Technology?
By: Mukesh Sahdev, Associate Content Writer (read
the author's Profile)
msahdev2000@yahoo.com |
