Grand composite curves

Although the composite curves can be used to set energy targets, they are not a suitable tool for the selection of utilities. The grand composite curve is a more appropriate tool for understanding the interface between the process and the utility system. It is also, as is shown in later chapters, a useful tool for study of the interaction between heat-integrated reactors and separators and the rest of the process. 

The grand composite curve is obtained by plotting the problem table cascade. A typical grand composite curve is shown in Fig. 6.24. It shows the heat flow through the process against temperature. It should be noted that the temperature plotted here is shifted temperature T and not actual temperature. Hot streams are represented ATn,in/2 colder and cold streams AT iJ2 hotter than they are in practice. Thus an allowance for ATj in is built into the construction. 

The point of zero heat flow in the grand composite curve in Fig. 6.24 is the pinch. The open jaws at the top and bottom represent Hmin and Qcmin, respectively. Thus the heat sink above the pinch and heat source below the pinch can be identified as shown in Fig. 

Figure 6.24 The grand composite curve shows the utihty requirements in both enthalpy and temperature terms.

The shaded areas in Fig. 6.24, known as pockets, represent areas of additional process-to-process heat transfer. Remember that the profile of the grand composite curve represents residual heating and cooling demands after recovering heat within the shifted temperature intervals in the problem table algorithm. In these pockets in Fig. 6.24, a local surplus of heat in the process is used at temperature differences in excess of AT ,in to satisfy a local deficit. ... 

Figure 6.25a shows the same grand composite curve with two levels of saturated steam used as a hot utility. The steam system in Fig. 6.25a shows the low-pressure steam being desuperheated by injection of boiler feedwater after pressure reduction to maintain saturated conditions. Figure 6.256 shows again the same grand composite curve but with hot oil used as a hot utility. 

Example 6.3 The problem table cascade for the process in Fig. 6.2 is given in Fig. 6.18. Using the grand composite curve ... 

Figure 6.25. The grand composite curve allows alternative utility mixes to be evaluated.

In Fig. 6.27, the flue gas is cooled to pinch temperature before being released to the atmosphere. The heat releaised from the flue gas between pinch and ambient temperature is the stack loss. Thus, in Fig. 6.27, for a given grand composite curve and theoretical flcune temperature, the heat from fuel amd stack loss can be determined. 

Figure 6.30 shows the grand composite curve plotted from the problem table cascade in Fig. 6.186. The starting point for the flue gas is an actual temperature of 1800 C, which corresponds to a shifl ed temperature of (1800 — 25) = mS C on the grand composite curve. The flue gas profile is not restricted above the pinch and can be cooled to pinch temperature corresponding to a shifted temperature of 145 C before venting to the atmosphere. The actual stack temperature is thus 145 + 25= 170°C. This is just above the acid dew point of 160 C. Now calculate the fuel consumption ...

Now let us take a closer look at the two most commonly used heat engines (steam and gas turbines) to see whether they achieve this efficiency in practice. To make a quantitative assessment of any combined heat and power scheme, the grand composite curve should be used and the heat engine exhaust treated like any other utility. 

The process requires (Qup + Qlp) to satisfy its enthalpy imbalance above the pinch. If there were no losses from the boiler, then fuel W would be converted to shaftwork W at 100 percent efficiency. However, the boiler losses Qloss reduce this to below 100 percent conversion. In practice, in addition to the boiler losses, there also can be significant losses from the steam distribution system. Figure 6.336 shows how the grand composite curve can be used to size steam turbine cycles. ... 

Using the grand composite curve, the loads and temperatures of... 

As with heat pumping, the grand composite curve is used to assess how much heat from the process needs to be extracted into the refrigeration system and where, if appropriate, the process can... 

Figure 6 9 The grand composite curve can be used to size heat pump cycles. (From Smith and Unnhoff, Trans. IChemE, ChERD, 66 195, 1988 reproduced by permission of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.)...

Use of the Grand Composite Curve for Heat Integration of Reactors... 

The preceding appropriate placement arguments assume that the process has the capacity to accept or give up the reactor heat duties at the given reactor temperature. A quantitative tool is needed to assess the capacity of the background process. For this purpose, the grand composite curve can be used and the reactor profile treated as if it was a utility, as explained in Chap. 6. 

The stream data in Fig. 13.6 include those associated with the reactor and those for the rest of the process. If the placement of the reactor relative to the rest of the process is to be examined, those streams associated with the reactor need to be separated from the rest of the process. Figure 13.7 shows the grand composite curves for the two parts of the process. Figure 13.7b is based on streams 1, 2, 6, and 7 from Table 13.1, and Fig. 13.7c is based on streams 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. 

In Fig. 13.7d, the grand composite curve for the reactor and that for the rest of the process are superimposed. To obtain maximum overlap, one of the curves must be taken as a mirror image. It can be seen in Fig. 13.7d that the reactor is appropriately placed relative to the rest of the process. Had the reactor not been appropriately placed, it would have been extremely... 

Figure 13.6 The composite curves and grand composite curve for the phthalic anhydride process.

Figure 13.8 The grand composite curve for the whole process apparently requires only high-pressure steam generation from boiler feedwater.

Let us now consider a few examples for the use of this simple representation. A grand composite curve is shown in Fig. 14.2. The distillation column reboiler and condenser duties are shown separately and are matched against it. Neither of the distillation columns in Fig. 14.2 fits. The column in Fig. 14.2a is clearly across the pinch. The distillation column in Fig. 14.26 does not fit, despite the fact that both reboiler and condenser temperatures are above the pinch. Strictly speaking, it is not appropriately placed, and yet some energy can be saved. By contrast, the distillation shown in Fig. 14.3a fits. The reboiler duty can be supplied by the hot utility. The condenser duty must be integrated with the rest of the process. Another example is shown in Fig. 14.36. This distillation also fits. The reboiler duty must be supplied by integration with the process. Part of the condenser duty must be integrated, but the remainder of the condenser duty can be rejected to the cold utility. 

Establish the heat integration potential of simple columns. Introduce heat recovery between reboilers, intermediate reboilers, condensers, intermediate condensers, and other process streams. Shift the distillation column pressures to allow integration, where possible, using the grand composite curve to assess the heat integration potential. 

The appropriate placement of distillation columns when heat integrated is not across the pinch. The grand composite curve can be used as a quantitative tool to assess integration opportunities. 

Like distillation, evaporation can be represented as a box. This again assumes that any heating or cooling required by the feed and concentrate will be included with the other process streams in the grand composite curve. 

Figure 15.4 shows the grand composite curve for this process and... 

Figure 16.19 shows the grand composite curve plotted from the problem table cascade. The two levels of steam generation are shown. 

Figure 16.19 Grand composite curve for Example 16.3 showing two levels of steam generation.

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