Optimization of Heat Exchanger Performance at Pars Glycol Petrochemical Company Using Multiphysics Simulations in COMSOL MultiphysicsⓇ

This study addresses the optimization of cooling-water consumption in the ۵۰۱۰E shell-and-tube heat exchanger at Pars Glycol Petrochemical Company through multiphysics simulations performed in COMSOL Multiphysics®. A baseline water flow rate of ۳۲.۴ m³/h with a product outlet temperature of ۵۰ °C was established. In the first optimization stage, the allowable product outlet temperature was increased to ۵۵ °C, enabling a reduction in water flow rate to ۲۱.۹ m³/h (a ۳۲.۴۱ % decrease), during which key operating parameters were evaluated. In the second stage, the outlet temperature limit was further raised to ۶۰ °C, resulting in a decreased flow rate of ۱۶.۰۵ m³/h (a ۵۰.۴۶ % reduction relative to the baseline). The results reveal the nonlinear flow behavior of the coolant, as extracted from the simulation data. Furthermore, product quality was maintained and all exchanger design constraints were satisfied under every scenario. This optimization yielded a ۵۰.۴۶ % reduction in cooling-water usage, which promises substantial annual savings at the industrial scale.

کلیدواژه ها:

COMSOL modeling ، multiphysics simulation ، energy optimization ، shell-and-tube heat exchanger ، Pars Glycol Petrochemical Company