Technologies to Increase the Efficient Use of Energy in the Process Industries

This study identified innovative research areas which will conserve industrial energy and improve fuel flexibility within the next ten years. The approach taken was, first to identify major industrial users of energy. Second, to characterize industrial processes so that research work on specific processes could be extended to other processes. Third, to identify research topics, establish the status of the technology, investigate technological and institutional barriers to implementing the technology, and to evaluate the savings and economics of installing the technology. Initially, 144 potential research topics were identified. These were screen to 32 topics. The 32 research topics were evaluated for energy saving and economics of implementation. Fifteen research topics which could economically save industrial energy and improve fuel flexibility were identified. Of these, topics two 1) Combustion of low Btu wastes 2) Furnace design, heat transfer and mixing patterns were more attractive economically than others and could save 500 BOE/yr-dollar research and 350 BOE/yr-dollar research, respectively. Immediate consideration could be given to funding these two topics.