Comparative evaluation and selection of heat exchangers using multicriteria decision-making

• A heat exchanger selection framework using multi-criteria decision-making is proposed. • Requirements and criteria for systematically comparing heat exchanger options are presented. • A knowledge base has been built to facilitate comparison of each identified requirement. • Evaluation metrics are proposed to enhance decision quality and efficiency. This study presents a well-structured method for comparing and selecting HE technologies for an IES. The decision to select a HE for a particular IES configuration can vary greatly depending not only on engineering requirements but also on the customer’s specific demand. In other words, the HE selection for IES requires a multicriteria decision- making approach, taking into account diverse technical, economic, and safety aspects, as well as the relative priorities considered by energy users. This study employs a HE evaluation approach combining multicriteria decision-making techniques widely used in various industries: QFD and AHP techniques. Of particular interest is the use of the proposed method to select a high-temperature HEs that couples advanced nuclear reactors and industrial processes. To build a practical basis for comparing HEs within the proposed framework, efforts were made to identify the various HEs requirements for IES purposes. In addition, leveraging the insights obtained from the literature review and the market survey of commercial HE suppliers, a knowledge base was built to facilitate the comparison of each requirement across various HE designs. Also, evaluation metrics were identified for HE requirements with a robust rationale to enhance the quality of decisions made throughout the proposed evaluation process. The evaluation procedure and knowledge base described in this study can provide a useful basis for those interested in screening the appropriate HE designs for various IES scenarios.