Combining reinforcement learning with mathematical programming:An approach for optimal design of heat exchanger networks

Heat integration is important for energy-saving in the process industry.It is linked to the persistently challenging task of optimal design of heat exchanger networks(HEN).Due to the inherent highly nonconvex nonlinear and combinatorial nature of the HEN problem,it is not easy to find solutions of high quality for large-scale problems.The reinforcement learning(RL)method,which learns strategies through ongoing exploration and exploitation,reveals advantages in such area.However,due to the complexity of the HEN design problem,the RL method for HEN should be dedicated and designed.A hybrid strategy combining RL with mathematical programming is proposed to take better advantage of both methods.An insightful state representation of the HEN structure as well as a customized reward function is introduced.A Q-learning algorithm is applied to update the HEN structure using theε-greedy strategy.Better results are obtained from three literature cases of different scales.

New Optimization Method, the Algorithms of Changes, for Heat Exchanger Design

Heat exchangers are widely used in the process engineering such as the chemical industries, the petroleum industries, and the HVAC applications etc. An optimally designed heat exchanger cannot only help the optimization of the equipment size but also the reduction of the power consumption. In this paper, a new optimization approach called algorithms of changes (AOC) is proposed for design and optimization of the shell-tube heat exchanger. This new optimization technique is developed based on the concept of the book of changes (I Ching) which is one of the oldest Chinese classic texts. In AOC, the hexagram operations in I Ching are generalized to binary string case and an iterative process, which imitates the I Ching inference, is defined. Before applying the AOC to the heat exchanger design problem, the new optimization method is examined by the benchmark optimization problems such as the global optimization test functions and the travelling salesman problem (TSP). Based on the TSP results, the AOC is shown to be superior to the genetic algorithms (GA). The AOC is then used in the optimal design of heat exchanger. The shell inside diameter, tube outside diameter, and baffles spacing are treated as the design (or optimized) variables. The cost of the heat exchanger is arranged as the objective function. For the heat exchanger design problem, the results show that the AOC is comparable to the GA method. Both methods can find the optimal solution in a short period of time.

Optimal design of the separate type heat pipe heat exchanger

Separate type heat pipe heat exchangers are often used for large-scale heat exchanging. The arrangement of such a heat exchanger conveniently allows heat input to and output from the heat exchanger at remote locations. The traditional method of designing an ordinary HPHE (heat pipe heat exchanger) is commonly applied in the separate type exchanger design, but the calculations have to be carried out separately, which makes it very complicated. In this work, the ε-NTU (effectiveness-Number of Transfer Units) method was applied for optimization analysis of single- or multi-level separate type heat pipe heat exchangers. An optimizing formula for single-level separate type heat pipe heat exchangers was obtained. The optimizing principles of effec- tiveness-NTU and heat transfer rate by the equal distribution method for multi-level separate type heat pipe heat exchanger are presented. The design of separate type heat pipe heat exchangers by the optimizing method is more convenient and faster than by the traditional method.

Flexibility analysis and design of heat exchanger network for syngas-to-methanol process

The heat exchanger network(HEN)in a syngas-to-methanol process was designed and optimized based on pinch technology under stable operating conditions to balance the energy consumption and economic gain.In actual industrial processes,fluctuations in production inevitably affect the stable operation of HENs.A flexibility analysis of the HEN was carried out to minimize such disturbances using the downstream paths method.The results show that two-third of the downstream paths cannot meet flexibility requirements,indicating that the HEN does not have enough flexibility to accommodate the disturbances in actual production.A flexible HEN was then designed with the method of dividing and subsequent merging of streams,which led to 13.89%and 20.82%reductions in energy consumption and total cost,respectively.Owing to the sufficient area margin and additional alternative heat exchangers,the flexible HEN was able to resist interference and maintain production stability and safety,with the total cost increasing by just 4.08%.

Assessment of micro-scale heat exchangers efficiency using lattice Boltzmann method and design of experiments

The study is focused on the use of nanofluids in a micro-open tall cavity,which is a type of micro heat exchanger(MHE).The cavity is heated from the bottom sidewall in a sinusoidal pattern,and the effects of four input parameters(Ra,Ha,Kn,and Vf)on heat transfer and irreversibility are investigated using numerical simulations based on Lattice Boltzmann Method(LBM).The findings of the study suggest that the local heat transfer on the bottom sidewall is strongly influenced by Ra and Ha,while the surface distribution of entropy generation is mainly dependent on Kn.The study also shows that the optimization of the magnitude and wavelength of the sinusoidal temperature can improve both local heat transfer and surface distribution of entropy generation.The results of the study provide valuable insights into the design of micro heat exchangers and suggest that the optimization of micro-porous geometries using DOE could lead to increased energy efficiency.The study contributes to our understanding of the complex interactions between input parameters in micro heat exchangers and highlights the importance of considering multiple parameters in the design process.

Entransy dissipation minimization for optimization of heat exchanger design

In this paper,by taking the water-water balanced counterflow heat exchanger as an example,the entransy dissipation theory is applied to optimizing the design of heat exchangers.Under certain conditions,the optimal duct aspect ratio is determined analytically.When the heat transfer area or the duct volume is fixed,analytical expressions of the optimal mass velocity and the minimal entransy dissipation rate are obtained.These results show that to reduce the irreversible dissipation in heat exchangers,the heat exchange area should be enlarged as much as possible,while the mass velocity should be reduced as low as possible.

基于HTRI的环己烷换热器的设计与优化

环己烷换热器是精制提纯环己烷的重要设备之一,也是合成环己酮装置的重要组成部分,为环己酮的合成提供了原材料的保障。文章基于HTRI的设计和校核模型对环己烷换热器进行设计与优化,对换热器的主要优化参数进行分析,实现对换热器的更好设计与优化。结果表明:基于HTRI进行优化设计,能够根据工艺要求设计提出多种设计方案,更有利于结合实际情况对环己烷换热器进行优化设计。

双层动车复合式冷却系统散热与噪声控制的优化研究

高速双层动车由于其内部空间紧凑以及元件的高功率化,冷却系统存在整体散热性能较差、噪声污染严重的问题。为此,通过冷却系统空气流场的数值模拟与试验研究,对其散热性能和噪声控制进行了优化。参照常用的冷却系统空气流道结构,基于双层动车复合式冷却系统的技术参数要求,对其尺寸进行了初步设计计算。分别采用多孔介质模型和多参考系(MRF)对复合式冷却系统换热器的芯体结构与旋风过滤器进行简化,并对其空气侧流场进行数值模拟。研究结果表明:风机入口处存在局部涡流,导致流体进入通风机的角度混乱,影响风机有效做功,在工作环境下系统风量(2.96 m^(3)/s)远小于设计值(3.35 m^(3)/s);同时局部涡流产生较大的气动噪声。此外,换热器入口的风速分布不均匀,导致系统冷却能力不足。针对上述问题,对空气流道结构进行了优化。调整了进、出口消声器的3个流道的流通面积,并在过渡段设置“喇叭型”导流结构来改善换热器进口处风速的均匀性;在冷却系统进、出口增加弧线型消声器能进一步降低噪声。结果表明:空气流道结构优化后水侧散热功率从33.18 kW增加到41.55 kW,油侧散热功率从157.82 kW增加到173.82 kW,系统加权平均噪声值从74.95 dB(A)降低到72.21 dB(A)。本研究可为类似工程项目冷却系统的优化设计提供参考,有助于改善乘坐体验和车辆运行的经济性。

探讨城市集中供热管网的优化设计

随着城市化进程的不断加快,城市供热需求呈现出日益增长的趋势。城市集中供热作为一种高效、经济的供热方式,得到了广泛应用。然而由于城市供热管网的规模较大、复杂度较高,时常存在着能源浪费、供热效果不佳等问题。因此,对城市集中供热管网进行优化设计具有重要的理论和实际意义。首先阐述了城市集中供热管网的优势,接着对当前供热管网设计存在的问题进行分析,并在优化设计上给出了相应对策,希望能给相关领域人员一定的参考和借鉴。

多层套管式换热器的传热过程分析计算

在传统套管式换热器的基础上,为了增加换热面积、扩大流量和强化传热,提出一种新型结构的多层套管式换热器,且对其结构、原理和特点进行概述;其次对这种换热器的传热过程进行分析简化,建立物理模型,确定传热过程的关系式;结合工程实际应用,选择冷热流体、结构参数和运行工况进行液-液和气-液换热计算,确定换热器的基本结构和应用场合。最后通过正交试验的方法,对套管表面加装直肋和螺旋翅片进一步结构优化,得到最佳的翅片的厚度、高度和间距,同时比较了在最优结构参数下换热器与传统管壳式换热器的传热特性,可供工程应用提供参考。

基于神经网络同步学习的功率模块散热器拓扑优化快速迭代方法

随着功率模块集成化程度的提高,其散热结构优化已成为研发中的关键。拓扑优化可通过变换散热器形貌、结构来最大化地提升散热效果,因此受到了广泛关注。但在拓扑优化过程中,每步迭代均需要计算模块与散热器温度分布,占用较庞大的计算资源和计算时间。为加速传统散热器拓扑优化进程,在基于传统固体各向同性材料惩罚SIMP(solid isotropic material with penalization)散热器拓扑优化方法的基础上,提出一种嵌套神经网络NN(neural network)同步学习的快速迭代方法。首先,构建散热器基于编码器-解码器结构的NN预测模型,即基于散热器形貌迭代进化过程实现优化结构的快速预测;其次,将NN模型与散热器SIMP拓扑优化流程相嵌套,利用迭代过程中的中间形貌同步训练NN;最后,针对单芯片、两芯片模块结构,对比所提方法与传统迭代方法的拓扑优化结果,验证了所提NN同步学习方法的准确性和快速性。

固体蓄热电锅炉对流管束优化设计研究

针对现有固体蓄热电锅炉换热效率较低、锅炉房占地面积大的不足,主要对新型固体蓄热电锅炉的对流管束部分进行优化,将对流管束蓄热体进行系统分析。考虑资金的时间价值,从技术经济动态角度进行分析,将系统的费用通过费用现值法折现至初期,以系统寿命期内的成本折现值最小为目标,以对流管束物理结构与热量守恒为约束构建数学模型,对该模型提出求解方法以及算法的程序说明。最终通过优化固体蓄热电锅炉的对流管束直径、管间距和长度这三个自变量,在满足采暖热负荷的情况下,使寿命周期内的成本折现值达到最小。

板式换热器板片制造工艺仿真优化研究

在众多换热设备中,板式换热器是换热性能较好的一种,该设备主要是依靠结构中的换热板片实现换热功能的,该板片在结构上是由多组波纹形状的凸起和凹槽组成,在比邻的两片板片之间的空隙可供换热介质通过,从而达到换热目的。而板片的制造质量对换热器的交换能力起至关重要的作用,本文叙述了换热器板片冲压成形中常见的质量缺陷,并对板片冲压仿真模拟结果进行优化分析。

船舶应用燃料电池系统的设计与试验

受到航海运输领域的新政策和严格的排放法规限制,船舶应用燃料电池受到越来越多的关注与重视,尤其是具有高效率、低噪声、模块化的质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)系统。本文介绍了由新源动力股份有限公司开发的船用PEMFC系统,以隔离防护和泄露探测为基准要求,该PEMFC系统配置了多个安全参数检测装置,对于BOP部件选型采用了针对性的方案,通过水热管理优化及标定,系统额定效率和峰值效率分别为45%和62%。为了证明PEMFC系统满足功能完善及安全可靠的要求,采用设计试验的方法研究并制定了性能评价试验,分别是可靠性试验、低温启动试验及双机并联试验。试验结果表明:经历了200h动态工况测试后系统在中间功率下性能无变化,在额定功率下电堆性能衰减率为1.2%;基于良好的水热管理及多模式控制手段,实现了吹扫时间和单体电压偏差大幅降低,当环境温度为-30℃时顺利实现低温启动,高于船用规范中的最苛刻要求;在高功率需求及冗余设计目标下,双机并联使得系统总成动力输出更平稳、可靠,而且通过交替启动策略提高了系统耐久性,不同的工作模式为系统维护及故障处理提供了基础条件;PEMFC系统具备搭载实船应用的能力。本文为船用PEMFC系统的设计和开发提供了参考依据。

石脑油加氢进料换热器的设计与优化

据统计,在2022年上半年我国石油石化行业的总体营收为38 948.84亿元,同比增长了31.55%,全行业实现规模净利润1 571.06亿元,同比增长了25.88%。这标志着,中国石油石化行业正呈现出蓬勃的发展态势,这与先进机械设备的应用有着不可分割的关系。以此为基础,分析了石脑油加氢进料换热器的设计方案,并且对设计方案的优化策略进行重点讨论。

大直径外导流筒换热器的设计优化与制造要点

以我公司承制某项目百万吨乙烯装置其中一台裂解气压缩机二段后冷器为例,从主要零部件管箱、壳体、管束的结构设计优化方面进行浅析。首次在设备中使用TⅠ级换热管,引入TⅠ级管束的概念,针对TⅠ级管束的管板制定加工工艺,将换热管与管孔的间隙减小至0.05~0.35 mm之间,通过实际制造验证工艺的可行性。对管束防腐涂料选材、现场喷涂及检验进行介绍,节省管束运输成本及缩短防腐周期。从制造难点分析与控制这方面入手,在壳体的加工、导流筒侧壁的加工、壳体组对焊接、管束部件的加工与防腐这些重点工序上,结合我公司实际生产过程中总结的关键技术分别进行阐述,给与同类产品带来借鉴。总结了大直径外导流筒换热器为实现长周期、稳定运行的设计与制造要点。

换热器传热性能优化设计及实验验证研究

换热器是工业生产中广泛使用的重要设备之一。它的传热性能直接影响着生产效率和能源利用率。基于换热器传热机理,对换热器传热性能优化设计进行了系统研究,并通过实验对优化设计方案进行了验证。研究表明,优化设计后的换热器传热系数提高,压降减小,整体传热性能得到了显著提升,可为换热器设计提供新思路,对提高工业生产效率和节能减排具有重要意义。

物流分配的不均匀性对紧凑式换热器效能的影响

以一侧流体分配不均匀的换热器模型为基础 ,建立了物流分配不均匀性对换热器效能影响的数学模型 ,通过理论分析和计算 ,为研究换热器内部物流分配不均匀对其效能的影响提供了一种分析方法 .该理论模型包括连续模型和离散模型 2种形式 ,前者为研究物流分配不均匀引起换热器效能的下降提供了一种分析计算方法 ,后者为控制实验研究的精度提供了理论依据 .研究结论对换热器的优化设计具有重要意义 .

新型紧凑式低温换热器的研究与进展

介绍了一些目前低温与制冷领域中使用的紧凑式换热器 ,对其结构、性能以及研究和应用情况进行了细致的分析和综述 ,同时也给出了一些作者的观点 ,为低温换热器的设计及以后的深入研究提供参考。

板翅换热器导流结构非线性映射与性能多目标优化

板翅式换热器入口位置纵向方向上的流体分布不均匀问题影响不同层之间流体传热。目前已有的导流结构采用试验方式确定部分参数,缺乏对导流结构参数优化。本文提出板翅换热器导流结构多目标优化分析方法,分别考虑导流结构中孔径、孔数、流体流速、板翅式换热器入口直径、导流结构在换热器入口处的位置、孔的间距等影响换热器入口处流体均匀分布的因素,构建导流结构压强与单位时间换热量的多目标优化数学模型。采用正交试验方法选择不同参数组合建立仿真试验模型,根据试验结果推导导流结构非线性映射方程,以BP神经网络与遗传算法相结合的方式对导流结构尺寸进行优化分析,得到导流结构多目标优化结果。采用Fluent数值模拟板翅式换热器导流结构参数优化前后流体均匀分布情况,通过对比无导流结构板翅换热器可以看出,对导流结构进行优化可以明显改善流体在换热器各层流道中的流动均匀性,提高换热量,强化换热器的传热性能。