PINCH TECHNOLOGY

CHE 526
(3 Units)

Dr. F. B. ELEHINAFE
 MODULE THREE

THE PROBLEM TABLE

ALGORITHM
• The Composite curves approach described in the previous
module could be used for obtaining energy targets at given
values of ΔTmin. However, it would require a “graph paper
and scissors” method for sliding the graphs relative to one
another which would be messy and imprecise.
• An algorithm for setting the targets algebraically has been
developed and is known as “The Problem Table Algorithm”.
The procedure will be illustrated by an example.
• Steam data and ΔTmin values for a process are given in Table
3.1. We are required to locate the pinch, evaluate QH,min and
QC,min.
Table 3.1
Stream No. and Type Cp (kW/°C) Ts (°C) Tt (°C)

1) Cold 2 20 135

2) Hot 3 170 60

3)Cold 4 80 140

4) Hot 1.5 150 30

ΔTmin= 10°C
Solution
• Step 1: Set up Temperature intervals as shown in Table 3.2.
Temperature intervals are set at – ΔTmin/2 below hot streams and +
ΔTmin/2 above cold streams.
Table 3.2
• Step 2: set up interval stream population as shown in Fig 3.1. Streams
are shown in a schematic representation with a vertical temperature
scale. Temperature interval boundaries are superimposed.

• Step 3: Set up interval heat balances using the equation 3.1

Fig 3.1
• Where i is interval number. Each interval will have either a net surplus
or a net deficit of heat as dictated by enthalpy balance, but never both.
This is shown in Table 3.3
• Step 4: Heat cascade for positive heat flows. A key feature of the
temperature intervals is the heat cascade principle, that is, any heat
available in interval i is hot enough to supply any duty in interval i+1.
this is shown in Fig 3.2.

• Starting with zero heat flow from hot utility, then the surplus of
60kW from interval 1 is cascaded into interval 2. There it joins the
2.5kW surplus from interval 2, making 62.5 kW to cascade into
interval 3.
Fig 3.2: Heat cascade for positive heat flow
• Interval 3 has 82.5kW deficit, hence after accepting the 62.5kW it can be
regarded as passing on 20kW deficit to interval 4, etc.

• Finally, 40kW is the cascaded energy to cold utility. This is the net enthalpy
balance on the whole problem. It is observed that a negative heat flow of
20kW occurs between intervals 3 and 4 which is thermodynamically
infeasible.

• To make it just feasible (i.e. zero heat flow), 20kW of heat must be added
from external hot utility and cascaded right through the system.
• The net results of this operation are that minimum utilities requirements
have been predicted as well as the pinch location. The results are 𝑄𝐻𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
20kW, 𝑄𝑐1𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 60kW and pinch at 85°C interval boundary temperature i.e.
90°C for hot streams and 80°C for cold streams. The heat cascade principle
leads to target prediction by The Problem Table algorithm.

• With The Problem Table Algorithm, the engineer has a powerful targeting
technique at his or her finger tips. Data can be quickly extracted from
flowsheets and analyzed to see whether the process is nearing optimal or
whether significant scope for energy savings exists.
PROBLEM
• The process streams data for a heat recovery network problem is
given in Table WS1. Analyze this data and determine, by means of The
Problem Table Algorithm, the 𝑄𝐻𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑄𝑐,𝑚𝑖𝑛 and pinch location.
Table WS1
Stream no. and Type Supply temp., °C Target temp., °C Heat Capacity Flowrate,
kW/ °C
1) Hot 300 80 0.3

2) Hot 200 40 0.45

3) Cold 40 180 0.4

4) Cold 140 280 0.6

ΔTmin = 20 °C