Title: A new systematic technique for retrofit of water network

Authors: Yin Ling Tan, Z.A. Manan

Addresses: School of Engineering & Science, Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Campus Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. ' Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper presents a new systematic technique for the retrofit of existing water network based on pinch analysis. This technique, which was applied on a paper mill, consists of three main steps: Network Diagnosis, Network Retrofit and Network Evolution. Network diagnosis step provides a good understanding of the existing water network through the use of a new tool called the Concentration Block Diagram (CBD). Next, modifications based on a set of pinch rules were performed on the existing water network to achieve the preliminary retrofit design. Finally, the preliminary retrofit design will go through an evolution to generate the final retrofit scheme. A paper making process case study was utilised to demonstrate the applicability of this new methodology. The results show that 55.5% of fresh water consumption and 65.7% of wastewater generation have been reduced, respectively, for the paper mill case study.

Keywords: water minimisation; water cascade analysis; WCA; concentration block diagrams; CBD; water networks; retrofitting; pinch analysis; paper mills; network diagnosis; network retrofit; network evolution; fresh water consumption; wastewater generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2008.018415

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2008 Vol.32 No.4, pp.519 - 526

Published online: 21 May 2008 *

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