Targeting and design methodology for reduction of fuel, power and CO2 on total sites

Simultaneous optimisation of production processes and total site utility systems provides a novel methodology that can reduce energy demands and emissions on a total factory site whilst simultaneously avoiding loss of cogeneration efficiency. This paper reports on the results of studies of total sites where the application of the methodology has achieved savings in fuel of up to 20%, along with improvements in global CO? levels and other emissions levels of at least 50% when compared to those achieved by application to individual operational processes. The novel methodology took into account the specific features of semi-continuous and batch operations and also the opportunities offered by the multi-objective optimisation of the design strategy for he total site. The environmental costs and potential for regulatory action were also incorporated. Software tools were developed to support the total site approach which was subsequently tested and its capabilities validated by successfully solving various case studies from different industrial sectors. (C) European Communities 1997. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.