Energy Optimization in Separation Processes Using Heat Pump Integration

Pinch technology has been employed as an important tool for the heat integration of petroleum refining processes. The thermal integration of heat pumping system is done by this technology. A heat pump is a system that takes low level heat from a source and delivers it to a sink where higher heat load and temperature levels are required. Heat pump integration in separation columns operates between the condenser as heat source and the reboiler as a heat sink. Therefore، it operates by extracting an amount of heat from a source with a relatively low temperature and delivering a larger amount of heat to a sink with a higher temperature by consuming high quality energy. In this study، the proper heat integration feasibility of a heat pump is done in the LPG process of Tehran oil refinery، which resulted in a $ 144،000 annual savings in energy cost.