Economic assessment of the feasibility of using a recuperative heat exchanger in industrial conditions

In modern conditions of industrial production, the key aspect is to increase energy efficiency and optimize the use of resources. These measures are necessary to ensure the economic profitability of industrial enterprises. The authors of this study have developed a design of a regenerative heat exchanger for the transfer of thermal energy from steam and gas emissions to cold water used for technological and economic needs. The purpose of the work is to carry out an economic assessment of the feasibility of using a regenerative heat exchanger with a ribbed surface in conditions of contamination during condensation of a vapor-gas mixture at an industrial enterprise. To assess the profitability of using a heat exchanger in various operating conditions, the net present value (NPV), the discounted payback period (DPP) and the profitability index (PI) are calculated. The calculations took into account the impact of the technical condition of the equipment and the frequency of its maintenance on the economic performance of the project. The study was based on calculations of various scenarios of the heat exchanger operation, taking into account contamination of the heat transfer surface and changes in the transmitted heat flow Qb between the heat carriers. During the study, the Qb heat flow varied from 50 to 200 kW and the initial investment in the project varied from 3,500 to 6,500 thousand rubles. As a result, data were obtained demonstrating how changes in these parameters affect the net present value of the project and its payback period. The main findings emphasize the need for regular cleaning and maintenance of the heat exchanger to maintain its efficiency and accelerate the return on investment. It was found that at a discount rate of 16%, the project will be economically profitable if the initial investment does not exceed 5,107 thousand rubles. The discounted payback period (DPP) of the project is on average from 1.5 to 3.4 years.

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