Analysis of chemical processes regarding their energy and resource efficiency
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
The project is directly related to three EPSRC research areas: Energy efficiency, Process systems: components and integration and Resource efficiency.
It encompasses the analysis of various chemical and other industries with the goal of quantifying both material and energy efficiency, developing novel methods of quantifying the efficiency of chemical and other plants, developing methodologies of transitioning from equipment-level efficiency to site and industry-level efficiency etc. The combining quantity will be exergy to reflect not only the combination of materials and energy as a resource but also the fact that energy comes in different qualities with varying usefuleness.
The end goal is to provide insight and analysis of the chemical processes regarding their energy and resource efficiency. These insights and methodologies will feed into business and policy decision-making and lead to reduced energy and process-related CO2 emissions and reduced material and energy consumption.
It encompasses the analysis of various chemical and other industries with the goal of quantifying both material and energy efficiency, developing novel methods of quantifying the efficiency of chemical and other plants, developing methodologies of transitioning from equipment-level efficiency to site and industry-level efficiency etc. The combining quantity will be exergy to reflect not only the combination of materials and energy as a resource but also the fact that energy comes in different qualities with varying usefuleness.
The end goal is to provide insight and analysis of the chemical processes regarding their energy and resource efficiency. These insights and methodologies will feed into business and policy decision-making and lead to reduced energy and process-related CO2 emissions and reduced material and energy consumption.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1795779 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/12/2020 | Charalampos Michalakakis |
| Description | So far 2 main areas of key findings have arisen from this award. The first is using exergy analysis in combination with network analysis (a methodology developed for analysing complex systems). This allows for a more insightful understanding of the resource use in complex chemical plants and ultimately aids in the prioritisation of improvement projects in the plant. The second area is the dynamic exergy analysis of control data from real chemical plants that allows for the fine-tuning of operating parameters of the plant to improve the resource efficiency. This technique, coupled with other data and statisical analysis methods provides more information about the patterns of performance of a plant through its lifetime. Last main section found that exergy efficiency correlates with profitability and emissions intensity better than traditional energy efficiency and intensity metrics |
| Exploitation Route | The work published in the paper associated with this award (Exergy and Network Analysis of Chemical Plants) has already been cited twice by eminent researchers in the field. A second paper has been accepted and a third is under review. Research can inform industrial efficiency decision-making |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy |
| Description | We have performed exergy analysis of real chemical plants that provided energy and material data for their production. This will be presented to them in due course to spur technical improvements that will enhance the material and energy efficiency of those plants. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |