Robust analysis of potential large overshoots in heat exchanger networks

A robust modeling method of heat exchanger networks (HENs) with structured parametric perturbations has been used in this paper which results in a model in LFT form. The LFT of the overall HEN system can be generated algorithmically from the model of the heat exchangers and from the network topology. Based on these modeling paradigms robust stability and performance tests have been applied using L_∞ signal norms in a non-standard way to determine an upper bound for overshoots in HENs. The proposed method has been illustrated on the simple example of a countercurrent heat exchanger with bypass.