Thermodynamic Analysis for Energy Conservation

This paper describes a methodology for performing a thermodynamic analysis of a process, and it demonstrates how such a study can be useful in identifying areas in the process with the greatest potential for improvement in energy use. The basis is a typical modern ethane cracker. The processing sequence was divided into subsections and the 'lost work' of each section quantified. Combustion and radiant heat transfer in the furnaces and boilers alone result in the loss of 50% of the availability that enters the plant. Based on these data, some suggestions for significant process improvement are analyzed. For situations where entropy calculations are impractical, a generalized check list is presented which identifies areas of potential economic impact for the process developer/designer, as a partial substitute for the full analysis