Site-wide low-grade heat recovery with a new cogeneration targeting method

One of the key performance indicators for designing site utility systems is cogeneration potential for the site. A new method has been developed to estimate cogeneration potential of site utility systems by a combination of bottom-up and top-down procedures, which allows systematic optimization of steam levels in the design of site utility configurations. A case study is used to illustrate the usefulness of the new cogeneration targeting method and benefits of optimizing steam levels for reducing the overall energy consumptions for the site. Techno-economic analysis has been carried out to improve heat recovery of low-grade waste heat in process industries, by addressing a wide range of low-grade heat recovery technologies, including heat pumping, organic Rankine cycles, energy recovery from exhaust gases, absorption refrigeration and boiler feed water heating. Simulation models have been built for the evaluation of site-wide impact associated with the introduction of each design option in industrial energy systems in the context of process integration. Integration of heat upgrading technologies within the total site has been demonstrated with a case study for the retrofit scenario. (C) 2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.