Energy Recovery Optimization with Non-Thermodynamic Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current energy recovery systems face challenges in optimizing energy consumption due to non-thermodynamic constraints, such as corrosion, environmental, and hazardous zone limitations, which existing software fails to address systematically, especially in large-scale processes with multiple material streams and variable process conditions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize an algorithm to calculate global energy utility targets and optimize driving force distributions by manipulating process conditions and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values, incorporating new heat carrier streams and thermodynamic constraints to minimize energy consumption without manual iteration or enumeration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing software is used for energy recovery system optimization, then basic energy targeting can be performed, but non-thermodynamic constraints (corrosion, environmental, hazardous zone limitations) cannot be systematically addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle non-thermodynamic constraintsVSAvoidsystem complexity for handling constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a constraint handling mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the energy recovery optimization algorithm and the non-thermodynamic constraints. This mechanism systematically incorporates corrosion, environmental, and hazardous zone limitations into the optimization process without requiring fundamental changes to the underlying energy targeting algorithms, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual iteration is used to optimize process conditions, then thorough exploration of solution space is possible, but time consumption and computational effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptimization accuracyVSAvoidcomputational time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining constraint parameters, process conditions, and thermodynamic properties before the optimization process begins. This preliminary setup allows the system to systematically evaluate multiple solutions without requiring manual iteration during the optimization phase, thereby maintaining high optimization accuracy while significantly reducing computational time and effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If heat carrier streams are added to overcome constraints, then energy recovery flexibility improves, but system complexity and capital investment increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy recovery flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of heat carrier streams

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying process conditions, temperature approach values, and heat carrier stream characteristics to find optimal energy recovery configurations. This approach allows the system to achieve flexibility in energy recovery while avoiding unnecessary increases in system complexity and capital investment by optimizing existing parameters before introducing additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient energy targeting and optimal process conditions for non-thermodynamic constrained waste heat recovery systems, reducing energy consumption and capital investment while handling complex constraints in a user-friendly manner.

Implementation Method 1

hot streams that require cooling to be placed in proximity with cold streams that require heating... Streams having thermal energy already present that needs to be removed, or streams that need to have heat added, can be associated with one another to optimize the energy consumption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS7729809B2System, method, and program product for targeting and identification of optimal process variables in constrained energy recovery systems

Publication Date: 2010.06.01 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

Systems, methods, and program product to calculate global energy utility targets and to model and determine an optimal solution for a non-thermodynamically constrained process or cluster of processes subject to non-thermodynamic constraints under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approaches, are provided. An exemplary system can utilize thermodynamic constraints exhibited in stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ΔTmini as optimization parameters, in addition to other process conditions degrees of freedom including the addition of new waste heat carrier streams to target for minimizing energy consumption of the non-thermodynamic constrained waste heat recovery problem and to identify the optimal operating conditions that result in desired minimum energy consumption subject to the non-thermodynamic constraints.