Evaluation of the complexity, controllability and observability of heat exchanger networks based on structural analysis of network representations

Abstract

The design and retrofit of Heat Exchanger Networks (HENs) can be based on several objectives and optimisation algorithms. As each method results in an individual network topology that has a significant effect on the operability of the system, control-relevant HEN design and analysis are becoming more and more essential tasks. This work proposes a network science-based analysis tool for the qualification of controllability and observability of HENs. With the proposed methodology, the main characteristics of HEN design methods are determined, the effect of structural properties of HENs on their dynamical behaviour revealed, and the potentials of the network-based HEN representations discussed. Our findings are based on the systematic analysis of almost 50 benchmark problems related to 20 different design methodologies.