Exergo-Econo-Environmental analysis and optimization of an industrial scale linear alkylbenzene production plant

IF 5.1 3区工程技术 Q2 ENERGY & FUELS

Thermal Science and Engineering Progress Pub Date : 2025-03-27 DOI:10.1016/j.tsep.2025.103548

Seyed Amirhosein Tabatabei , Bahram Zeinolabedini , Masoud Beheshti , Abolghasem Kazemi

{"title":"Exergo-Econo-Environmental analysis and optimization of an industrial scale linear alkylbenzene production plant","authors":"Seyed Amirhosein Tabatabei , Bahram Zeinolabedini , Masoud Beheshti , Abolghasem Kazemi","doi":"10.1016/j.tsep.2025.103548","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, an industrial scale linear alkylbenzene production plant was simulated and validated against the operational data. Subsequently, exergy analysis was carried out to assess the individual equipment irreversibility. The results showed that the distillation towers accounted for the highest exergy loss within the process. This can be attributed to the highest rates of hot and cold utilities consumption within the columns, resulting in significant exergy loss. The pathfinder optimization algorithm based on the objective functions minimizing exergy loss and energy consumption in the process was used for finding the optimal operational parameters of the process. As a result, a remarkable 18% and 24% economic savings in terms of the total annualized costs of the process were obtained, respectively. Also, an environmental evaluation was carried out on individual equipment and the whole process and it was found that the hot utility requirements of the process are responsible for more than 90% of the environmental impacts such as acidification potential, global warming potential and abiotic depletion potential. Through the optimizations, a 19% reduction in global warming impact of the process was achieved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23062,"journal":{"name":"Thermal Science and Engineering Progress","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 103548"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Thermal Science and Engineering Progress","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451904925003385","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

In this study, an industrial scale linear alkylbenzene production plant was simulated and validated against the operational data. Subsequently, exergy analysis was carried out to assess the individual equipment irreversibility. The results showed that the distillation towers accounted for the highest exergy loss within the process. This can be attributed to the highest rates of hot and cold utilities consumption within the columns, resulting in significant exergy loss. The pathfinder optimization algorithm based on the objective functions minimizing exergy loss and energy consumption in the process was used for finding the optimal operational parameters of the process. As a result, a remarkable 18% and 24% economic savings in terms of the total annualized costs of the process were obtained, respectively. Also, an environmental evaluation was carried out on individual equipment and the whole process and it was found that the hot utility requirements of the process are responsible for more than 90% of the environmental impacts such as acidification potential, global warming potential and abiotic depletion potential. Through the optimizations, a 19% reduction in global warming impact of the process was achieved.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Thermal Science and Engineering Progress Chemical Engineering-Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

10.40%

发文量

327

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Thermal Science and Engineering Progress (TSEP) publishes original, high-quality research articles that span activities ranging from fundamental scientific research and discussion of the more controversial thermodynamic theories, to developments in thermal engineering that are in many instances examples of the way scientists and engineers are addressing the challenges facing a growing population – smart cities and global warming – maximising thermodynamic efficiencies and minimising all heat losses. It is intended that these will be of current relevance and interest to industry, academia and other practitioners. It is evident that many specialised journals in thermal and, to some extent, in fluid disciplines tend to focus on topics that can be classified as fundamental in nature, or are ‘applied’ and near-market. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress will bridge the gap between these two areas, allowing authors to make an easy choice, should they or a journal editor feel that their papers are ‘out of scope’ when considering other journals. The range of topics covered by Thermal Science and Engineering Progress addresses the rapid rate of development being made in thermal transfer processes as they affect traditional fields, and important growth in the topical research areas of aerospace, thermal biological and medical systems, electronics and nano-technologies, renewable energy systems, food production (including agriculture), and the need to minimise man-made thermal impacts on climate change. Review articles on appropriate topics for TSEP are encouraged, although until TSEP is fully established, these will be limited in number. Before submitting such articles, please contact one of the Editors, or a member of the Editorial Advisory Board with an outline of your proposal and your expertise in the area of your review.