Title: A new exergoeconomic optimisation methodology applied to an industrial distillation system

Authors: Lucas Bonfim Rocha; Marcelino Luiz Gimenes; Sérgio Henrique Bernardo De Faria; Laureano Jiménez Esteller

Addresses: Technology Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of Maringa, Colombo Avenue 5.790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil ' Technology Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of Maringa, Colombo Avenue 5.790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil ' Technology Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of Maringa, Colombo Avenue 5.790, Maringá 87020-900, Brazil ' Engineering Faculty, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Tarragona 43007, Spain

Abstract: In this work, we simulate and optimise an industrial distillation system to produce bioethanol manipulating design parameters to reduce the total exergy loss inside the columns and taking into account the economic parameters. The operational parameters are validated using Aspen Plus through the analysis of the exergy loss profile. However, the variation of the number of stages is not straightforward in processes simulators because requires to evaluate the optimal position to insert the stage in the column (i. e., stripping or rectification section). It is demonstrated that the number of stages tightly impacts the energy efficiency of the columns. The optimisation is realised in Matlab to relate the total exergy loss inside the columns with its cost identifying the sections with greater exergy loss, inserting new stages (defined by the user) and calculating the capital cost associated. The results show that is possible thermodynamically optimise the industrial distillation system.

Keywords: aspen plus; bioethanol; exergoeconomic; exergy loss profile; industrial distillation system; Matlab; optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2017.083947

International Journal of Exergy, 2017 Vol.22 No.4, pp.352 - 375

Received: 21 Jul 2016
Accepted: 07 Dec 2016

Published online: 26 Apr 2017 *

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