Norwegian University of Science and Technology Version 6, 01.01.

08
Department of Energy and Process Engineering
Trondheim, Truls Gundersen

User Guide for PRO_PI1

Simple Software for Process Integration

The software PRO_PI1 has been developed at Chalmers University in Gothenburg as a tool
for Pinch Analysis of industrial process plants. The computer program is available from the
spin-off company Industriell Energianalys AB, Chalmers Industriteknikk, see the link:

http://www.cit.chalmers.se/sv/index.html
The software is available in two versions:

PRO_PI1: This version only covers the analysis part and can not be used to establish or
design Heat Exchanger Networks. This version is available as freeware, and it
is this version that is used in the Process Integration course.

PRO_PI2: This version can (as indicated above) also be used to actually design Heat
Exchanger Networks, and is marketed as a commercial software. This version
has nevertheless been used in last year Projects and the Master thesis project
free of charge. The program can be made available by contacting the course
lecturer of Process Integration. Any distribution and use of this version beyond
such student tasks is against the license agreement.

The computer program (both versions) is made as a so-called “add-in” under Excel (and thus
has the extension (.xla) in stead of (.xls) as for ordinary Excel files). The two versions of the
computer program requires only 644 kB (PRO_PI1) and 1197 kB (PRO_PI2).

Security:

Both versions of the software use macros, and since most Windows Operating Systems are
installed with maximum security as default, this security level has to be lowered within Excel
to be able to run the software. To change security level, select ”Tools” followed by ”Macro”
and then ”Security” within Excel. If the security level is set to Medium, you will be asked at
the start of the program whether you accept (”enable”) the use of Macros.

Extension:

This may no longer be a problem, but is included nevertheless for completeness. In the past
it was experienced that when downloading a version of the software from the Homepage in
TEP 4215 Process Integration:

http://www.ept.ntnu.no/fag/tep4215/

the extension was changed from .xla (as it should be) to .xls (which will prevent the program
to start up properly). If this for any reason still should happen, ”simply change” (see below)
the extension back to .xla and the software will work properly.

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 The problem with newer versions of Windows is that one does not ”see” the extension
type for ”known” file types. This can be changed by (in Windows Explorer) selecting
Tools and then Folder options. In the new frame that pops up, one chooses View and
under Advanced Settings, most will have a ”tick” for ”Hide extension for known file
types”. By removing this tick, control is returned to the user, and the extension can be
changed. Another (and simpler?) option is to specify the extension explicitly when
downloading the file.

Start using the Software:

1) Start Excel.

2) Select File followed by Open and browse to the local copy of PRO_PI1.

(1 and 2 can of course be done simply by clicking on the icon for the local copy)

3) If the security level is set to Medium as explained above, a warning will now be given
regarding macros. In order to actually run the software one has to accept ”Enable
Macros”. If no such warning is given, and the program does not start, it is an indication
that the security level is too high (see comments above regarding security).

4) A special command line with typical Pinch terms should now appear. In addition to the
pull-down menu called Pinch, there are a few new command buttons.

5) If the worksheet in ExCel is blank without the normal grid, one has to ask for New and
Blank Workbook.

6) Select Pinch followed by ”New stream data sheet”.

7) A special group of worksheet ”cells” should now appear in the left part of the worksheet.
These are used to specify Stream Data and have headings such as ”Name”, ”Type”,
”Tstart”, etc.

The software is now ready for use and the specification of hot and cold streams can start.

A few additional hints:

One should remember that this is software developed in a university environment, and that
user friendlyness is not always at its top. As part of this, it is not always obvious what the
next step is. A few hints are given to help on some of these situations:

a) A process stream is specified by its Tstart, Ttarget and Q value. The software will
automatically fill in the ”Type” (hot/cold) depending on whether the stream is cooled or
heated.

b) In column (J) one can specify the product of mass flowrate and specific heat capacity
(also referred to as heat capacity flowrate and here given the symbol FCp, while the
symbol used in Process Integration is mCp). The enthalpy change will then be
calculated and automatically put in column (K). The value can then be transferred to
column (E) in the stream table, either manually or by using a link in typical spreadsheed
manner. The right hand side of the worksheet is (as indicated) for help only.

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 c) The worksheet that contains the Stream Data is called “SD data”, and one always has to
return to this sheet before trying to run any of the other commands under the ”Pinch”
menus, such as:

- Composite Curves - Grand Composite Curve - Demand Curves, etc.

d) The software offers two different options for specifying minimum required driving
forces in the heat exchangers:

i) A “global” ΔTmin as is commonly done in the course Process Integration.

ii) An individual ”contribution” to ΔTmin for each stream. These ”contributions” can be
specified in column (F) of the stream table (SD data), and works as follows: For a
match between hot stream (i) and cold stream (j), the requirement for minimum
driving forces is:

DThex > DTi + DTj

With a global ΔTmin all streams will have a ”contribution” of ΔTmin/2.

e) The Composite Curves are drawn in a new sheet “CC”, and the actual figures behind the
graphs can be found in the sheet “CC data”. This is also the case with other curves
drawn by PRO_PI1 on the basis of the stream data. With changes in the stream data and
drawing of new curves, subsequent new sheets are generated referred to as CC(2),
CC(3), etc. Thus, it may be a good idea to clean up once in a while. It is also highly
recommended to store your data frequently.

f) Figures for minimum external heating and cooling as well as the Process Pinch
(temperatur) can be obtained from the sheet “CC data”. The Pinch temperatur is given in
so-called modified temperatur. This temperatur is adjusted by ΔTmin/2 relative to the real
temperatures (”up” if a cold stream is ”causing” the Pinch, and ”down” if a hot stream is
”causing” the Pinch).

g) The list if hints/tips will be extended as soon as frustrated students report their problems
to the course lecturer !!

Trondheim, 01.01.08
Truls Gundersen, e-mail: Truls.Gundersen@ntnu.no
Energy and Process Engineering, NTNU

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