Abstract
The problem of the optimal synthesis of heat exchanger systems is treated here with an entirely new approach. It is formulated, using the heat spectrum diagram, as a problem of finding the combination of heat donors and receivers that will minimize a given criterion function. This function is the cost of the heat exchanger system, assumed to be proportional to the total heat-transfer area.
The problem is a combinatorial problem for continuous elements. It is solved in general by applying the maximum principle of Pontryagin. The solution for a specific problem is shown to be obtainable by a simple graphical operation.
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References
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Communicated by R. Jackson
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Nishimura, H. A theory for the optimal synthesis of heat-exchanger systems. J Optim Theory Appl 30, 423–450 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935496
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935496