Energy and Waste Reduction Opportunities in Industrial Processes

Abstract

Traditional approach for reducing energy and waste in industrial
processes typically focus on improving the efficiency of the primary
energy conversion equipment. Unfortunately, this approach frequently
results in incremental improvement at high costs, since most energy and
mass conversion equipment is relatively efficient to begin with and
upgrading to higher efficiency equipment is usually quite costly.
In this article, we describe an alternative approach that begins by
focusing outward to the distribution system and energy conversion
equipment. We call this protocol the “INSIDE-OUT” approach, and
suggest that it is a manifestation of the exergy analysis method. To sup-
port this assertion, we develop the thermodynamic bases for the “Out-
side-in” and the “Inside-out” approaches to identifying savings
We then demonstrate the comparative effectiveness of the “inside-out”
approach using approaches from lighting, air compressors, and electro-
plating. Finally, we show why the inside-out approach leads to greater
sustained savings over time.