Thermoeconomic and ecological analysis applied to heating industrial process in chemical reactors

Abstract

In this work is presented the case that evaluates the possible environmental and economical gains with the application of water solar heating as an alternative for the consumption of natural gas in chemical reactors from cosmetic industries. The proposal consists of pre-heating of water for a boiler producing steam to heat several reactors from an industrial unit and measure the impacts caused by this application. It is used an analysis methodology based on thermoeconomic optimisation for a steam generation unit and production reactors heating in a chemical plant. This methodology consists at first in identifying the system functions as a whole and then individually for each unit, creating the thermoeconomic functional diagram, formulating the cost problem and solving the mathematical equations associated to the system. Based on the investment demands, expected results for fossil fuel consumption reduction and a consequently beneficial impact on the amount of greenhouse effect gases emission and a payback of approximately two years, this solution in study might be consider attractive. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.