Thermodynamic and Economic Optimization of a Refrigeration Cycle for Separation Units in the Petrochemical Plants Using Pinch Technology and Exergy Syntheses Analysis

Exergy and thermoeconomic analyses are herein employed to evaluate the proposed refrigeration cycle of Tabriz olefin plant. The exergetic and exergoeconomic variables of all equipment and streams are calculated. Thermoeconomic model is developed according to the total revenue requirement (TRR) method. The results indicate that the rational efficiencies of the Heat Exchanger E-۱۰۴ and compressor are the lowest. Throttle valves also have ۳۸% of the total exergy destruction, aside from the compressor which alone have ۳۱% of exergy destruction of the cycle. In addition, heat exchanger LNG-۱۰۰ and E-۱۰۴ have respectively ۱۵% and ۱۰% of the total exergy losses of the system and the other equipment do not have a considerable amount of exergy destruction and loss. The thermoeconomic analysis results can depict valuable cost-based information concerning capital investment and operating costs of the system.