Potential for energy and operational optimizations
Reference: AAK Denmark A/S
How do you identify potentials for energy and operational optimizations in factories with many cooling and heating needs? With a pinch-analysis.
Viegand Maagøe has some of Denmark’s leading experts in this method and we helped the oil factory AAK identifying their opportunities for heat recovery, energy optimizations and savings potential.
How we completed the assignment
The pinch-analysis is a systematic method where the process flows’ needs for cooling and heating are compared to decide what process flows that can exchange energy. The pinch-analysis is an effective tool for the identification of heat recovery opportunities. The analysis also shows how far you are from the theoretically optimal heat recovery scenario.
Viegand Maagøe has collected and analysed operation data and worked out a proposition for profitable solutions that can reduce the factory’s energy consumption. The work has i.a. consisted of:
- Collecting and analysing data
- Going through plant diagrams and process surveillance plants in control rooms
- Presenting and delivering calculations and results
- Coordinating and project management.
Reference: AAK Denmark A/S
Contract period: 2019
Results
Viegand Maagøe has conducted an overview of several process streams of the plant that has potential for heat recovery. There is already high energy efficiency at AAK, but the analysis showed energy and operational optimization potentials anyways. Based on that, there was made a basis for decision with specific propositions to realize the heat recovery. This included combining relevant streams to savings in steam and cooling water consumption, production of tank heating and trace heating.
In depth knowledge about the plant in question is required to turn the results from the pinch-analysis into real projects. Simultaneity, geography, physical distance and more must be regarded to make sure that the project can be completed realistically.
