Optimization of the total annual cost in mixed materials heat exchanger network by detailed equipment design using particle swarm technique

This paper investigated an optimization model for heat exchanger network by detailed design method for each heat exchanger unit. Particle swarm optimization technique is used to determine to optimum results in the mixed material heat exchanger network which included the capital and energy costs of heat exchangers. Mixed materials used in corrosive flows and included three types of exchangers such as cheap, expensive and mixed. Two methods used for achieving the optimum the total annual cost in mixed materials heat exchanger networks such as total and partial decompositions methods. The case study was used to show the application of the proposed method. The total annual cost has been reduced by detailed design in each heat exchanger by optimization technique. It has been reduced 20.7% compared with initial case in full integration method. The reduction of the total annual cost by detailed design in the partial decomposition method is 12.4% compared with the full integration method and 5.78% compared with the total decomposition method.