Energy Cascade and Pinch Analysis

Abstract

This chapter continues to build an in-depth understanding from the foundations laid in the previous chapter. The problems in this chapter provide ample practice in the drawing of energy cascade diagrams, which is a key stepping-stone to successful pinch analysis. Pinch analysis is important as it enables a detailed understanding of heat flows in a complex system, which ultimately leads to optimum heat integration and placement of external hot and cold utilities.

Pinch analysis is a widely applied methodology used to minimize energy consumption in chemical processes as it works by optimizing energy recovery, hence reducing waste heat and increasing overall energy efficiency. A pinch occurs at the closest point of approach between hot and cold streams in a process system. By designing around this point, energy required from external utilities can be minimized, hence allowing reduced operating cost for excessive utility duties. This chapter also provides students exposure to a wide range of problems requiring the combined application of several concepts in a single problem.