A Method for Evaluating Energy Improvement Options

The evaluation results in Table 20.1 show large benefits of these improvement ideas based on the ISBL level. If decisions for project selection were made at this ISBL level, these options could be selected for implementation due to large benefits compared with relatively low capital costs. To avoid the bad investment decisions and determine the true benefits for these ideas, the effects on incremental steam, power, BFW, and fuel balances are assessed in detail as follows. 

Once the improvement ideas are selected for assessment, the first thing to do is to determine the sequence of potential implementation because different sequences of project implementation will have different effects on OSBL. As a general guideline, quick hits of improvement with no and low costs should be considered for implementation first at the early stage. Capital projects are ranked based on benefits and costs and then prioritized. Other criteria such as easy implementation and turnaround schedule are also considered in determining the implementation sequence. 

For this example problem, the improvement ideas will be implemented according to the following sequences  

The following evolutions for these two implementation sequences will determine which options should be implemented in which sequence and why. 

2 Step 2 Establish the Base Case of Steam Balance 

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