Abstract
Mizushima complex is one of biggest ten heavy chemical complexes in Japan, which has been reducing energy consumption for many years and generally considers that all possible energy saving measures which could be implemented in sites have now already been completed. Conventional thinking and methodology have optimized energy consumption within a single site (“single site approach”), which considers the energy efficiency of the processes and equipment within the site itself. By using this approach, it is difficult to realize any further significant improvements in energy saving within any particular site. Area-wide approach that considers multiple sites a single entity is able to overcome this limitation by the single site approach and achieve further reductions in energy consumption. This case study for Mizushima complex applied the concept of “area-wide approach” using the methodology of “area-wide pinch technology” which had been applied to heavy chemical complexes in Japan. Area-wide pinch technology, consisting of Total Site Profile (TSP) analysis and R-curve analysis, confirmed large energy saving potential within Mizushima complex.
