PROCESS HEAT INTEGRATION AND PINCH ANALYSIS OF A VEGETABLE OIL EXTRACTION PLANT

Seigha I. Fetepigi, Zekieni R. Yelebe* and Revelation J. Samuel

Department of Chemical/Petroleum Engineering,

Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

E-mail: yelebezr@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The pinch analysis of a vegetable oil extraction plant was conducted to establish a better energy saving methodology. This methodology identified energy-cost reduction, based on the thermodynamic characteristics of the process. The location of the pinch point and design of a Heat Exchanger Network (HEN) which satisfies minimum utility requirement were also analysed. The results obtained by improving the HEN design for the Vegetable Oil Extraction Plant using pinch analysis identified huge reduction in capital investment thus, lowering annual energy consumption by 764.8 kW with an associated annual cost reduction from $1.617 million to $1.263 million, an equivalent 22% annual cost savings. Hence, the developed procedure is a better heat integration mechanism and capable of reducing overall energy consumption of the plant.