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

在这项研究计划中，正在开发一种新的能量分析方法，称为“桥方法”。如果Bridge方法得到充分开发并转移到工业中，它将是一项突破，使用一种比夹点分析等传统技术更有效的方法更好地实现工业过程中的能源分析和能源消耗减少，以及与此相关的显著温室气体减排。布里奇方法考虑了能量转移图(ETD)，这是基于热力学前两个定律的工业过程中能量转移的表示。ETD展示了如何在整个工业过程单元中节约能源，同时降低能耗。ETD使通过修改工艺操作、热交换器网络(HEN)以及热力和电力生产系统来提高工厂能效的所有机会成为可能。 该研究计划的总体目标是继续探索Bridge方法的基本方面，理想的是能够开发出适合于工业应用的全球方法。该计划将涉及四个研究主题，包括：(A)开发热交换网络改造的优化算法，以通过HEN改造来降低能源消耗；(B)开发用于分析现场范围的热和电力系统的热力学关系；(C)开发工业集群的全场分析方法，特别是针对在现有纸浆和造纸厂实施生物精炼的情况；以及(D)将这些工具组合成设计高能效工艺的总体方法。对于在工业环境中工作的工艺工程师来说，总体方法应该是用户友好的。布里奇方法的独创性在于对工业过程中的能量转换和退化有了更好的基本理解和表述，并将这种理解融入到设计节能工业过程的实用方法中。

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.