A design strategy for enhanced process integration of separation systems considering heat pumping is scrutinised in order to significantly contribute to the rational use of energy. The suggested methodology for synthesising energy efficient distillation processes is tested for various separation tasks (e.g. light hydrocarbons, acetic acid recovery) by scrutinising different types of heat pump structures (vapour recompression, bottom flash, closed cycle mechanical heat pumps, absorption cycles). After illustrating the design strategy for enhanced process integration by some typical nearly ideal and strongly non-ideal separation case studies a comparative analysis of different heat pump assisted separation systems are presented by EMAT (exchanger minimum approach temperature) dependent cost calculations, balanced exergy composite curves, and exergy losses. The economic potential of heat integration assisted by absorption & mechanical heat pump cycles is also elaborated to estimate the expected pay back time of any kind of heat pumped matching.