Federal/Industry Development of Energy-Conserving Technologies for the Chemical and Petroleum Refining Industries

Abstract

Argonne National Laboratory has started a program to identify future RD&D projects that (i) promise cost-effective savings of scarce fuels in the chemical and petroleum refining industries, (ii) are not likely to be pursued by industry alone.

This program, sponsored by the Office of Industrial Programs of DOE, defines technology needs from an industry viewpoint, so that recommended projects will complement industry's efforts and result in technologies for which there are clearly identifiable markets. The search for RD&D projects is currently focusing in the following technology categories: (i) reduction of fouling in cooling water systems, (ii) alternatives to conventional distillation and separation, (iii) low level waste heat recovery, (iv) advanced concepts in furnaces and boilers, (v) coal utilization, and (vi) advanced concepts in conversion and processing. The future direction of the program will continue to be dictated largely by industry needs.