Plantwide Energy Management for Hydrocarbon and Petrochemical Industry

Abstract

Within the hydrocarbon and petrochemical industry the generation and utilization of various forms of energy is a highly complex and dynamic process. The process plant normally generates steam and fuel in the form of process off-gas. The same process plant also requires fuel, steam, and electricity, which is supplied from the utility plant. Also, the utility plant transforms energy from one form to another for economic efficiency. The low grade energy is transformed to medium grade energy as steam. This steam is then transformed to high grade energy in the form of electric or mechanical power. As a result, the transformation and utilization of energy requires a critical balance of plantwide steam and power. The balance of power production with actual plant requirements depends largely upon the production rate and quality of various products. It is the function of an energy managcment system to control and monitor this complex interactive system to insure the reliable availability of adequate energy for the process plant at minimum cost.