Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.
Reducing industrial low grade heat generation and waste
leads to improved energy efficiency, decreased environmental
emissions and reduced fuel costs. However it is an area that is
recognised as being underexploited. Many studies have been
carried out developing methodologies and techniques for the
reduction and reuse of the waste heat. However the techniques
are typically specific to a process or industry platform.
Additionally success levels can be heavily dependent on the
prior knowledge and experience of the practitioner.
This paper shows the development of a new methodology
called GALGEM (General Approach to Low Grade Energy
Management), which combines existing Process Integration
techniques with second law of Thermodynamics analysis and
heuristic rules to give a general guideline for energy
management. The specific focus is on low grade waste heat.
GALGEM is a simplified technique, based on the solid
foundation of existing techniques and best practice. It guides
practitioners through the decision making process to exclude
the less effective solutions, thus reducing reliance on tacit
knowledge and expertise for the predetermination of success.
GALGEM is designed to be applicable across all sectors and
industrial processes. The success of the technique is
demonstrated in an industrial case study, a large international
semiconductor manufacturing plant, highlighting direct,
indirect and combined heat exchange opportunities for waste
heat recovery
