Process Integration- What is the Incentive?

Abstract

The very first flow sheet for a new plant arises when a number of unit operations are put together in a well defined sequence. From economic point of view, however, it is normally not attractive to build and to run such a plant. Therefore, Unit Operations are optimized first and energy and process related interactions between different steps are studied. Recent research has led to a better understanding concerning the optimum use of utilities and related capital and has introduced some fundamental principles when studying process modifications. Insight becomes usable for practical application when controllable systematic are deduced from it. The combination of systematics leads to a technology. The optimization of an existing process is much more difficult because of the various hardware restrictions. The paper describes the tools needed, the strategy how to use them and the result of the optimization process for an existing chemical plant with the impact on energy consumption. It demonstrates that there really is an incentive to put more work into systematics for Process Integration, not only in view of new plants, but also for the retrofit of existing processes.