PINCH AND MINIMUM

UTILITY USAGE
 TEMPERATURE-ENTHALPY
(T-H) DIAGRAMS
• Assume one heat exchanger. These are
T
alternative representations
H,in

TC,in T TH,in
TC,out
Q
TC,out
TH, out
TH, out Slopes are the
TH,in TH, out TC,in inverse of F*Cp.
Recall that Q=F Cp ∆T

TC,out TC,in ∆H
Q
Q
 T-H DIAGRAMS
• Assume one heat exchanger and a heater
TH,in

TC,in TC,out T TH,in

Q QH TC,out

TH, out
TH, out
TH,in TH, out TC,in

TC,out ∆H
TC,in
H Q QH
QH Q
 T-H DIAGRAMS
• Assume one heat exchanger and a cooler
TH,in

TC,in TC,out
Q
T TH,in
TC,out

QC
TH, out TH, out
TH,in TH, out TC,in
C
QC
TC,out ∆H
TC,in QC Q

Q
 T-H DIAGRAMS
• Two hot-one cold stream
TH1,in
TH2,in
T TH2,in
TC,in TC,out
Q1 Q2 TH1,in
TC,out
TH2,out TH2,out
TH2,out

TH1,in TH1,out TH1,out

TH2,in TH2, out TC,in

TC,out ∆H
TC,in
Q1 Q2
Q2 Q1
Notice the vertical arrangement of heat transfer
• How are streams subject to phase change represented?

Phase
T change
T

Slope
change
Liquid

∆H ∆H
Single component Multicomponent
 ANSWERS
• How can one represent a stream that has a variable
Cp?
T T

∆H ∆H
 T-H DIAGRAMS
• Composite Curve
Obtained by lumping all the heat from different streams that are
at the same interval of temperature.
T T

∆H ∆H
Remark: By constructing the composite curve we loose information on
the vertical arrangement of heat transfer between streams
 T-H DIAGRAMS
• Moving composite curves horizontally
T T

Cooling

Heating

∆H ∆H
Smallest ∆T Smallest ∆T
TH1,in TH2,in
TH1,in TH2,in TC,in
TC,in Q1 Q2 QH TC,out
Q1 Q2
TC,out TH2,out
QC
TH1,out TH2,out TH1,out
 T-H DIAGRAMS
T Moving the cold composite
stream to the right
Cooling
• Increases heating and cooling BY
THE SAME AMOUNT
Heating • Increases the smallest ∆T
• Decreases the area needed
Smallest ∆H A=Q/(U* ∆T )
∆T TH1,in TH2,in
TC,in Notice that for this simple
Q1 Q2 QH TC,out
example the smallest ∆T
takes place in the end of the
QC TH2,out
cold stream
TH1,out
 T-H DIAGRAMS

T • In general, the smallest ∆T

Cooling can take place anywhere.
Heating
• We call the temperature at
which this takes place THE
PINCH.
∆H
 TEMPERATURE-ENTHALPY
DIAGRAMS
• From the energy point
T
of view it is then
convenient to move the
Cooling cold stream to the left.
• However, the area may
become too large.
Heating
• To limit the area, we
∆H introduce a minimum
approach ∆Tmin
 GRAPHICAL PROCEDURE
• Fix ∆Tmin
• Construct the hot and cold composite curve
• Draw the hot composite curve and leave it fixed
• Draw the cold composite curve in such a way that
the smallest ∆T=∆Tmin
• The temperature at which ∆T=∆Tmin is the PINCH
• The non-overlap on the right is the Minimum
Heating Utility and the non-overlap on the left is the
Minimum Cooling Utility
 HANDS ON EXERCISE
∆H=27 MW ∆H=-30 MW

REACTOR 2
T=140 0C T=230 0C T=80 0C
0
T=200 C

∆H=32 MW ∆H=-31.5 MW

REACTOR 1
T=20 0C T=40 0C
T=180 0C T=250 0C

Stream Type Supply T Target T ∆H F*Cp

(oC) (oC) (MW) (MW oC-1)
Reactor 1 feed Cold 20 180 32.0 0.2
Reactor 1 product Hot 250 40 -31.5 0.15
Reactor 2 feed Cold 140 230 27.0 0.3
Reactor 1 product Hot 200 80 -30.0 0.25

∆Tmin=10 oC
 Answer: Hot Streams

250 250
200 200
15

5
.

0.2 FCp=0.15
p=0

.4
=0
p=
p
FC

FC
FC

80 80
40 40 FCp=0.15

31.5 30 ∆H 6 48 7.5 ∆H
 Answer: Cold Streams

0 .3
230 .3 230 p=
= 0 F C
Cp
180 F 180 =0.5
F Cp
140 140
.2

0.2
=0

p=
p
FC

FC
20 20
∆H ∆H
32 27 24 20 15
 Answer: Both Curves Together.
250
230
200
180 ∆T= ∆Tmin
Pinch
140

80
40
20
∆H
10 51.5 7.5
Important observation: The pinch is at the beginning of a cold stream or at
the beginning of a hot stream.
 UTILITY COST vs. ∆Tmin
• There is total overlap for some values of ∆Tmin
T

COST

∆H
Utility
TOTAL OVERLAP

∆Tmin ∆H

PARTIAL OVERLAP

Note: There is a particular overlap that requires only cooling utility

• Overlap leads only to cooling utility
T

∆H

• Different instances where the cold stream overlaps totally the

hot stream. Case where only heating utility
T T T

∆H ∆H ∆H

TOTAL PARTIAL
OVERLAP OVERLAP
 SUMMARY
• The pinch point is a temperature.
• Typically, it divides the temperature range
into two regions.
• Heating utility can be used only above the
pinch and cooling utility only below it.
 PROBLEM TABLE
• Composite curves are inconvenient. Thus
a method based on tables was developed.

• STEPS:
1. Divide the temperature range into intervals and
shift the cold temperature scale
2. Make a heat balance in each interval
3. Cascade the heat surplus/deficit through the
intervals.
4. Add heat so that no deficit is cascaded
 PROBLEM TABLE
• We now explain each step in detail.
Consider the example 1.1

Stream Type Supply T Target T ∆H F*Cp

(oC) (oC) (MW) (MW oC-1)
Reactor 1 feed Cold 20 180 32.0 0.2
Reactor 1 product Hot 250 40 -31.5 0.15
Reactor 2 feed Cold 140 230 27.0 0.3
Reactor 2 product Hot 200 80 -30.0 0.25

∆Tmin=10 oC
 PROBLEM TABLE
1. Divide the temperature range into intervals and shift the
cold temperature scale
250
250
240
230
200 200
190
180
150
140

80 80

40 40
30
20
Hot Cold Hot Cold
streams streams streams streams

Now one can make heat balances in each interval. Heat transfer within
each interval is feasible.
 PROBLEM TABLE
2. Make a heat balance in each interval. (We now turn into
a table format distorting the scale)
∆Tinterval ∆Hinterval Surplus/Deficit?
250 F Cp=0.15
10 1.5 Surplus
240
F Cp=0.25 40 - 6.0 Deficit
200
10 1.0 Surplus
190
40 -4.0 Deficit
150
F Cp=0.3 70 14.0 Surplus
80
40 -2.0 Deficit
40
30 10 - 2.0 Deficit
F Cp=0.2
Hot Cold
streams streams
 PROBLEM TABLE
3. Cascade the heat surplus through the intervals. That is,
we transfer to the intervals below every surplus/deficit.
1.5 1.5
This interval has a 1.5 The largest deficit
- 6.0 surplus. It should - 6.0 transferred is -7.5.
transfer 1.5 to
interval 2. -4.5 Thus, 7.5 MW of
1.0 1.0 heat need to be
This interval has a -3.5 added on top to
-4.0 deficit. After using prevent any deficit
-4.0
the 1.5 cascaded it to be transferred to
-7.5 lower intervals
transfers –4.5 to
14.0 14.0
interval 3.
6.5
- 2.0 -2.0

4.5
-2.0 - 2.0

2.5
 PROBLEM TABLE
4. Add heat so that no deficit is cascaded.
7.5

1.5 1.5 This is the

1.5 9.0 minimum heating
- 6.0 - 6.0 utility
-4.5 3.0

1.0 1.0 This is the

-3.5 4.0 position of the
-4.0 -4.0 pinch
-7.5 0.0

14.0 14.0

14.0
This is the
6.5
minimum cooling
-2.0 -2.0
utility
4.5 12.0

-2.0 -2.0

2.5 10.0
If the heating utility is increased beyond 7.5 MW the cooling utility will

increase by the same amount

7.5 7.5 + λ

1.5 1.5 Heating utility is

9.0 9.0 + λ larger than the
- 6.0 - 6.0 minimum
3.0 3. 0 + λ
1.0 1.0 Heat is
4.0 4. 0 + λ transferred
-4.0 -4.0 across the pinch
0.0 0. 0 + λ
14.0 14.0
Cooling utility is
14.0 14. 0 + λ
larger by the
-2.0 -2.0
same amount
12.0 12. 0 + λ
-2.0 -2.0
10.0 10. 0 + λ
 IMPORTANT CONCLUSION
7.5 + λ

DO NOT TRANSFER 1.5 Heating utility is

HEAT ACROSS THE 9.0 + λ larger than the
minimum
- 6.0
PINCH 3. 0 + λ
THIS IS A GOLDEN RULE OF PINCH 1.0 Heat is
TECHNOLOGY. 4. 0 + λ transferred
•WE WILL SEE LATER HOW THIS IS -4.0 across the pinch
RELAXED FOR DIFFERENT 0. 0 + λ
PURPOSES
14.0
• WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN BADLY Cooling utility is
14. 0 + λ
INTEGRATED PLANTS THERE ARE larger by the same
HEAT EXCHANGERS WHERE SUCH
-2.0 amount
TRANSFER ACROSS THE PINCH 12. 0 + λ

TAKES PLACE -2.0

10. 0 + λ
Heating utility of smaller temperatures
Heating utility at
0.0 the largest
7.5
temperature is
1.5
1.5 now zero.
1.5 + 4.5
9.0
- 6.0
- 6.0
0.0
3.0

1.0
1.0 These are the
4.0
1.0 + 3.0 minimum values
-4.0 of heating utility
-4.0
0.0
needed at each
0.0
14.0
temperature
14.0
level.
14.0
14.0
-2.0
-2.0
12.0
12.0
-2.0
-2.0
10.0
10.0
MATHEMATICAL MODEL
δ0 Let q i be the surplus or demand of heat in interval i .
It is given by:
q1
δ1
qi = ∑F k
H
cp kH (Ti −1 − Ti ) − ∑F s
C
cp sC (Ti −1 − Ti )
k ∈ΓiH s∈ΓiC
q2
The minimum heating utility is obtained by solving
the following linear programming (LP) problem

qi S min = Min δ 0
δi
qi+1 s. t
δ i = δ i −1 + q i ∀i = 1,... mI
δi+1
δi ≥0
We showed already how to find the solution to this problem.
We remark now this mathematical model because we will
qn
extend it later to one that will enable us to design networks.
δn
 IS PINCH TECHNOLGY
CURRENT?
• YES and NO.
• It is a good first approach to most problems.
• Pinch technology is at the root of any other
heat integration technology. It is impossible to
understand them without the basic concepts of
pinch technology.
 WHAT IS A PINCH DESIGN
• A heat exchanger network obtained using
the pinch design method is a network where
no heat is transferred from a hot stream
whose temperature is above the pinch to a
cold stream whose temperature is below the
pinch.