Stochastic optimization-based approach for simultaneous process design and HEN synthesis of tightly-coupled RO-ORC-HI systems under seasonal uncertainty

The use of waste heat powered wastewater desalination by coupling an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with reverse osmosis (RO) has been recognized as a promising solution to desalination. Herein, a tightly-coupled system that allows for optimally customizing the RO-ORC to a background process via heat integration (HI) is developed to minimize the expected desalination cost, while accounting for the seasonal wastewater variability. Moreover, the developed RO-ORC-HI system can improve the membrane permeability by preheating the feed wastewater. To achieve these goals, a stochastic optimization-based solution strategy is proposed by sequentially considering (1) a Pinch-based Duran-Grossman model embedded with uncertainty realization for performing optimal HI during process optimization; (2) a flexible multi-scenario heat exchanger network (HEN) synthesis model that minimizes the total annualized cost of HEN based on a customized stage-wise superstructure. Finally, the behaviors of the proposed system and solution strategy are illustrated through its comparison with a deterministic solution.