Energy Academy
Designing the Heat Exchanger Network11 / 17

Minimum Number of Units & Network Simplification

Targeting the fewest heat exchangers a network needs, and simplifying an over-complicated design by breaking loops.

10 min read Β· Jacob Willis, Net Zero Lead


A feasible network isn't automatically an economical one. Every heat exchanger, heater and cooler costs capital, so a network with more units than it needs is spending money for no extra energy saving. This lesson gives you a target for the fewest units a network can get away with β€” and a way to spot when an existing design has more than that.