Program for the Development of a Novel Methodology for the Design of Energy Efficient Biorefineries and Industrial Systems

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A novel approach for energy analysis called the "Bridge Method" is being developed in this research program. If the Bridge Method is fully-developed and transferred to industry, it will represent a breakthrough that better enables energy analysis and energy use reduction in industrial processes using a method that is more effective than traditional techniques such as pinch analysis, and the significant GHG reductions associated with this. The Bridge Method considers the Energy Transfer Diagram (ETD), which is a representation of energy transfer in industrial processes based on the first two laws of thermodynamics. The ETD presents how energy is conserved, and at the same time degraded across industrial process units. The ETD makes it possible to visualize all opportunities for increasing plant energy efficiency by modifications of the process operations, the heat-exchanger network (HEN), and the heat and power production system.***The overall objective of this research program is to continue to explore the fundamental aspects of the Bridge Method, ideally to the point where a global methodology can be developed that is suitable for application in industry. Four research themes will be addressed in this program including (a) the development of an optimization algorithm for the retrofit of heat exchange networks to reduce energy consumption by HEN retrofit, (b) the development of thermodynamic relationships for analyzing site-wide heat and power systems, (c) the development of a method for total site analysis for industrial clusters and especially for the case of biorefinery implementation in existing pulp and paper mills, and (d) assembling these tools into an overall methodology for the design of highly energy-efficient processes. The overall method should be user-friendly to process engineers working in the industrial environment. The originality of the Bridge Method lies with a better fundamental understanding and representation of energy conversion and degradation in industrial processes, and the incorporation of this understanding in a practical methodology for the design of energy efficient industrial processes. **