Energy Integration of Industrial Processes Based on a Graphic Representation of Exergy Factors.

The energy integration of industrial processes is becoming increasingly more effective thanks to new methodological developments such as a pinch tecnology. The original method centers primarly on a consideration of the heat transfer exergy losses represented by the area between the composite curves on a Carnot factor versus heat rate diagram. the present paper proposes an extension of this approach to account for pressure drop exergy losses as well as for the gray exergy associated with the fabrication of the heat exchangers. It is proposed to graphically represent on the same Carnot factor versus heat rate diagram the above mentioned losses as well as other high exergy inputs and outputs linked, for example, to the introduction of heat pumps and cogeneration units. Such an extended exergy syntheses results in an improved and more coherent exergy balance for comparing energy recovery schemes. The proposed approach is suitable for future extension to include pollution and resource scarcity factors.