Heat recovery analysis of an existing crude distillation unit

The cost of energy has become a significant factor in the design of new refineries as well as in retrofitting existing designs. Process heat accounts for about 65% of an average refinery energy consumption. As such, reducing heater duties represents the single most important energy saving method. One way of reducing heater duty is the recovery of more process heat and thus increase heater inlet temperature. Greater energy pick up, off-course, is subject to both thermodynamic as well as economic constraints.