Cost-effective retrofit of a palm oil refinery using pinch analysis

• Main Authors: Wan Alwi, Sharifah Rafidah, Tamar Jaya, Muhammad Azan, Abdul Manan, Zainuddin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit UTM Press 2009
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/9989/1/UTMjurnalTEK_51F_DIS%5B03%5D.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/9989/; http://www.penerbit.utm.my/onlinejournal/51/F/51sirif03.pdf

A palm oil refinery involves energy-intensive processes. Maximizing thermal efficiency of palm oil refinery is crucial for the plant profitability. This work implements a pinch analysis retrofit technique to maximize heat recovery and thermal efficiency of a palm oil refinery, subject to the existing process constraints. The procedures involve setting the maximum heat recovery targets and cost-effective retrofit of the heat exchanger network (HEN). Application of the technique on a palm oil refinery results in reduction of 700 kW (21%) heating and cooling loads or a saving of RM370,787, incurring a capital investment of about RM656,293 and a payback period of 1.77 years.