Mapping of Thermal Energy Integration: Retrofit Assessment of Industrial Plants

Improving the performance of existing industrial plants through new technologies and innovative eco-energy solutions is raising a lot of challenges for researchers and practitioners. In the search for new sustainable designs, understanding the current energy distribution within a plant in regards to its energy requirements is essential for the decision-making process. The technique of Composite Curves is commonly employed to evaluate the scope for energy savings. However, such graphical representation is seldom self-explanatory. In the present work, an alternative to the energy Composite Curves representation is proposed to complement the visualization of energy integration opportunities. A novel energy management assessment based on mapping of the overall process energy is introduced as a simpler, yet practical and resourceful illustration to support the initiation and application of thermal energy integration.