Exergoeconomic Performance Investigation of a Batch Ethylene Glycol Recovery System

Abstract

A detailed exergoeconomic analysis of an ethylene glycol recovery system is conducted in this study considering a broad system modelling. In the process, ethylene glycol is attempted to be distilled from the waste of a polymer producing chemical plant that includes water, glycols and some anhydrides. The purification is sustained by a distillation system that operates in a batch manner which is heated by an electric fired heating oil system. The heating system, reboiler and condenser groups are investigated for understanding the characteristics of the system and revealing the efficiencies exergetically and the cost values exergoeconomically. The calculations are done by developing a computer program using MATLAB. Overall system exergetic cost values, with respect to the time, are calculated depending on the real data gathered from the plant and the exergy destruction points. The exergoeconomic costs for the system are then pointed out for sustaining a better efficiency and cost.