Comprehensive solar thermal integration for industrial processes

Abstract

The thermal integration into industrial process is majorly focused on guarantee the heat duty and temperature level demanded by the process. Other important objectives must be considered when is integrated solar thermal energy, since its integration into industrial processes seeks to maximise its use. The present work proposes a comprehensive integration of solar thermal energy, which is based on the Pinch Analysis, and considers economical evaluation, environmental impact and the ΔTmin. The ΔTmin used to get the objectives of the solar thermal integration is denominated ΔTmin,th. The approach supposes the establishment of multiple objectives before the solar system final design. Profitable costs for two case studies, dairy and 2G bioethanol processes, were obtained. For all the scenarios, the integrated solar thermal system of dairy process was viable with zero emissions of CO2. In 2G bioethanol process, only in one scenario the solar fraction was equal to one. It is possible to reach a surplus energy of 44%, with the same absorber area of solar energy, or would be possible to reduce the area by 49% to supply the heat duties.