Data extraction between steady state simulation environment and pinch analysis - an approach without process topology

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School of Engineering | Master's thesis
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Date

2010

Major/Subject

Energiatekniikka

Mcode

Ene-47

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

80 s. + liitt.

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to outline and design a software tool for an automated data extraction phase of pinch analysis. With the help of the tool, the simulation data obtained from simulation runs in the steady state simulation environment is transferred and processed into a form suitable for pinch software used to carry out analyses based on the rules of pinch analysis. The work was carried out at VTT Energy organisation in Jyväskylä, Finland, where a versatile steady state simulation environment called BALAS had been under intensive development as a part of a technology programme. A visual tool was also needed for process integration studies based on pinch analysis. This was to help the engineer to evaluate how different process concepts and connections would effect on the energy balance and the potential for energy savings in different situations. One of the challenges in applying pinch technology in industrial studies is to develop algorithms and tools for extracting the relevant process data and converting it into format that is applicable for the eventual pinch analysis. Earlier, the phase of data extraction in BALAS simulation environment had been very much a manual and most tedious procedure. In the first part of this thesis the main principles of a pinch analysis were discussed and some practical implementations of pinch technology in pulp and paper industry were presented. Subsequently, the problems of data extraction were examined in more detail and the most common problems of data extraction, particularly the ones that occur in pulp and paper industry, were examined. The main task of this thesis was to develop a data extraction tool. An attempt was made to ease the data extraction procedure and improve its success rate, and eventually offer a tool for carrying out data extraction virtually at the press of a button, starting from converged simulation. The development of the this software application was, however, most challenging due to very limited conditions set by the simulation environment. The data extraction was obliged to base on very limited data that was available from the BALAS simulation environment through a DCOM-link (Dynamic Common Object Modelling). Information related to supply and discharge flows of individual calculating units was available only. The used approach to solve the data extraction was, thus, most irrational but unavoidable. Programmable principles of data extraction were developed and then utilized in developing a simple software application in VBA-environment to perform the data extraction phase with an automated manner as possible within the limited circumstances. However, some major limitations were emerged. The final outcome of this approach was valuated and some further outlining for further work was put forward.

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Supervisor

Fogelholm, Carl-Johan

Thesis advisor

Manninen, Jussi

Keywords

process integration pinch analysis, data extraction, steady state simulation

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