Energy efficiency analysis and optimization of heat exchange network under the goal of “double carbon”: a case for production process of isopropyl acetate

ABSTRACT

In order to response to the “double carbon” strategy for reducing emissions, chemical production processes were optimized to lower the amount of utility work and equipment investment expenses with increasing the system’s capacity for heat recovery. A sensitivity analysis and the energy efficiency analysis with pinch technique were performed on the distillation and purification of the 30 kt/a isopropyl acetate (IPAC) production process by using process simulation software of Aspen Plus. The IPAC refining tower optimization results show that the purity of the refined IPAC could be reached 99.9% at circumstances of 44 theoretical plates, 19 feed plates, and 0.755 reflux ratio. According to the optimized energy consumption data from Aspen Energy Analyzer (AEA), the cold and heat logistics matching was performed. It can be seen that the heat exchange network was tuned to maximize energy recovery by reducing the amount of utility work. The optimized cold and heat utility usage were 734.69 and 727.81 kW, which meaning that compared with original process, the cold and heat utility usage energy can be save with 10.0%, respectively. The optimized results provide a certain theoretical basis and solution for improving energy saving and reducing investment costs.

KEYWORDS:

• Process systems
• synthesis of heat exchange network
• optimal design
• pinch technology
• energy recovery

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2024.2302380.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (No. 2022D01C377), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22369017, No. 51966017, No. 22178298), Open Fundation of State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemical Industry of Dalian University of Technology (No. KF2204), Tianshan Innovation Team (No. 2023D14010) and the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (FSKLCCA2201).

Notes on contributors

Maierhaba Abudoureheman

Maierhaba Abudoureheman, Associate Professor in College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang University. Her research fields are process system simulation and optimization.

Yue Shi

Yue Shi, a graduate student who is currently enrolled in College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang University. Her research fields are process system simulation and optimization.

Bo Wei

Bo Wei, Professor in College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang University. His research fields are process equipment and combustion pollution control.

Yunpeng Zhao

Yunpeng Zhao, Professor in College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, The Mining & Technology University. His research fields are chemical process simulation and optimization.