Novel method of benchmarking energetic efficiency of industrial systems

Abstract

In actual economic environment, business sustainability requires high-efficiency technological processes. While Government and Utilities Demand Side Management (DSM) programs consider energy consumption (E Used ) as a whole, proposed method splits energy in 2 (two) specific components: Ideal energy (E Ideal ) and Energy at Risk (E@R). Considering these two types of energy a Benchmark Energy Factor (BEF) can be defined. BEF compares the energy used by industrial system or processes (IS&P), E used to the minimum energy required to accomplish the task at hand E ideal . Ideal energy (power) can be very accurate calculated by using adequate (well known) laws of physics chosen function of the work type performed by IS&P, therefore a solid (not empirical) reference for benchmarking system is available. That eliminates traditional variability that uses variable baselines as “best practice” or other criteria. Volatile comparative element across an industrial sector is replaced with a theoretical goal with a scientific set-up. BEF enables a new approach towards energy efficiency in industrial sector and help level the playing field for energy management. Proposed method promotes a sustainable and consistent approach making possible to determine accurately the (E@R) under variable material and environmental conditions making possible to manage the energy losses. The rating is then solely based on how close the true energy consumption within an IS&P gets to that ideal state. From economic standpoint, these sustainability concepts favor high-efficiency systems, as any energy-efficient system translates into higher effective productivity. Paper proposes a rating system model to describe the energy-efficiency for any IS&P independent of a comparison with others. BEF enables a reliable rating system model describing energetic efficiency of any IS&P that can be used by U.S. Department of Energy-Energy-Star Certification for Plants Program replacing existent benchmarking practice. Case study assessing IS&P by using (E@R) and (BEF) concepts with development of a new standard is presented.