Design of robust optimal heat exchanger networks

Heat exchanger networks are designed with an aim of optimal performance at the design steady stage. This does not guarantee that in the presence of unanticipated (temperature, flow, UA) and planned (temperature, flow) disturbances, the designed network will still be optimal. To this end, this project aims at designing a network which will be robust enough to tackle these disturbances while maintaining optimality of operation. Continuous as well as batch heat exchanger networks will be targeted.

Required/expected skills: Matlab (dynamic simulation), optimization, basics of network theory