Oluleye G., Jobson M., Smith R., Perry S., 2014, Evaluating the Potential of a Process Site for Waste Heat Recovery, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 39, 1069-1074.
In this work, waste heat is defined and a methodology is developed to identify the potential for waste heat recovery in a process site, considering the temperature and quantity of waste heat sources from the site processes and the site utility system (including fired heaters and, the cogeneration, cooling and refrigeration systems). To support the methodology, the concept of the energy efficiency of a site is introduced – the fraction of the energy inputs that is converted into useful energy (heat or power or cooling). Mathematical models of waste heat recovery technologies using heat as primary energy source, such as organic Rankine cycles (using both pure and mixed organics as working fluids), absorption chillers and absorption heat pumps are provided and applied to assess the potential for recovery of waste heat. The methodology is illustrated using a case study of a petroleum refinery. The energy efficiency of the site increases by 12 % as a result of the energy recovered from waste heat.
