Topics in computer‐aided design: Part II. Synthesis of optimal heat exchanger networks by tree searching algorithms

A compact matrix representation of an acyclic exchanger network is derived and used to generate a decision tree for the heat exchanger problem. The optimal network, which is imbedded in one of the tree nodes, is located by enumerating the entire tree using a search procedure. When this is not feasible, an alternate partial enumeration method is suggested. Sample problems ranging in size from 4 to 10 streams are used to illustrate the methods.