15 - Problem Table development and implementation

Abstract

Process Integration is a well-established tool that has proven effective in identifying resource conservation solutions that minimize process waste, thus reducing environmental impacts and costs. This chapter analyzes the numerical targeting method via Problem Table by applying the Pinch Analysis concept to various Process Integration fields. Various implementations of the numerical method are found in a variety of applications. The numerical method is fundamentally based on the cascading concept of using resources in ascending order of resource quality. The definition of quality varies by application. The Cascade Table method is extended to the Balanced Cascade Table to assess the resource requirement at all resource quality levels, aiming to minimize the use of expensive resources. The analysis is also extended to multiple Cascade Tables, in which the result of one cascade is used as the information source for the consequences cascade. These multiple Cascade Tables can solve problems with multiple resource types. The Problem Table can also be extended from solely resource targeting to simultaneous targeting and the recycling network design of the process. As a fundamental extension, the numerical Cascade Table analysis used to target and design single-quality material recycling networks can be evolved to handle multiple qualities. This chapter provides an overview of the mentioned numerical Problem Table methods in various applications. The chapter ends with suggestions for the potential future development of numerical tools.