Process Integration Opportunity Assessment

In many applications, the benefits from process changes outweigh those from energy modification projects. The challenge is how to identify process changes that generate significant process benefits. The methods and tools for idea discovery are diseussed here. 

Improved heat recovery is the most common for improved energy efficiency. However, a recent work (Zhu et al., 2011) has pointed to the areas of process and equipment iimovations, which are less commonly explored, that may provide significant opportunities for both process and energy improvements. Implementing process innovations often results in combined benefits in process yields, throughput, and energy efficiency. Many of these areas include process condition, flowsheet optimization, as well as use of advanced equipment. Some examples can be listed as below 

Energy and Process Optimization for the Process Industries, First Edition. Frank (Xin X.) Zhu. 

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PROCESS INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENT Composite curves... 

The appropriate placement of distillation columns when heat integrated is not across the heat recovery pinch. The grand composite curve can be used as a quantitative tool to assess integration opportunities. The scope for integrating conventional distillation columns into an overall process is often limited. Practical constraints often prevent integration of columns with the rest of the process. If the... 

Risk management constitutes an essential element of processes continuity assurance by the identification, assessment and prevention of the effects of the crucial integrated threats. In the situation of the risk materialisation it gives the opportunity for the reaction on the effects of the critical threats. 

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