Development of Energy Cascading Assessment Model for Industrial Energy Systems

Abstract

It is necessary to introduce energy cascade systems and innovative technologies into the industrial sector in Japan. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of energy cascade systems on energy conservation with respect to substitution of a direct iron ore smelting reduction process for a blast furnace process. The following industries are assumed to be connected to an integrated energy center: steel & iron, cement, pulp & paper and ethylene.
The authors have developed an energy cascading assessment model that integrates energy flows of industrial processes and energy conversion technologies minimizing the total primary fuel consumption. The results shows that energy cascading with the conventional iron process can save fuel consumption by 36% compared with a case without cascading. Moreover, the innovative ironmaking process enhances heat cascading and can reduce about half the fuel consumption. The model is useful to evaluate technologies from the viewpoint of total fuel consumption of combined industries.