Thermodynamic and Economic Optimization of a Refrigeration Cycle for Separation Units in the Petrochemical Plants Using Pinch Technology and Exergy Syntheses Analysis

Abstract

Exergy and thermoeconomic analyses are herein employed to evaluate the proposed refrigeration cycle of Tabriz olefin plant. The exergetic and exergoeconomic variables of all equipment and streams are calculated. Thermoeconomic model is developed according to the total revenue requirement (TRR) method. The results indicate that the rational efficiencies of the Heat Exchanger E-104 and compressor are the lowest. Throttle valves also have 38% of the total exergy destruction, aside from the compressor which alone have 31% of exergy destruction of the cycle. In addition, heat exchanger LNG-100 and E-104 have respectively 15% and 10% of the total exergy losses of the system and the other equipment do not have a considerable amount of exergy destruction and loss. The thermoeconomic analysis results can depict valuable cost-based information concerning capital investment and operating costs of the system.