Formalization of the non-linear programming for the configuration of the heat exchange system in column apparatuses of the petrochemical industry with minimum costs

Abstract

For increasing the efficiency of heat transfer processes, the layer-by-layer concept of arrangement of various types of packings in column apparatuses is considered. The results of hydraulic tests of a dry and irrigated cell packing, as well as individual hydraulic tests of a mesh packing, are presented. Methods and algorithms for solving linear programming problems under “uncertainty” conditions were considered. However, in some areas of science it is often difficult or impossible to formalize the problem in an appropriate way and reduce it to a linear programming problem. In this paper, methods for solving non-linear programming problems with a vector objective function are considered. At present, the use of non-linear programming in the vast majority of real situations is reduced to linear approximation models. Along with this, at a significant non-linearity, due to its specificity or influence on the nature of the model, it is necessary to apply optimization methods that are much more complex than, for example, the simplex method. However, the importance of non-linear programming is constantly increasing. This is due to the rapidly growing knowledge of managers and specialists in the use of mathematical models designed to prepare solutions, as well as the increasing availability of computer programs for solving large-scale nonlinear problems. The analysis and studies of the hydrodynamics of a number of regular packings have shown that cell and mesh packings are promising for the implementation of the phase inversion mode. The proposed concept of intensifying heat transfer processes in column apparatuses is based on the use of layers of various packings arranged in the following order in the apparatus, type 1 – cell, type 2 – mesh. At the same time, their main geometric characteristics differ significantly from each other. However, the structure of the bulk packing is inhomogeneous, which makes it difficult to implement a stable mode of local phase inversion under these conditions. This is due to the structure of column apparatuses with bulk packing, in which there is an increased proportion of pores (porosity) near the walls of the apparatus. Porosity is very significant; it can reach up to 40%, and as a result, the local velocity near the walls exceeds the velocity in the centre of the apparatus by up to 70%. By contrast, the use of regular packing structures makes this potentially highly efficient mode technically possible.