field walk-through can identify opportunities that an energy balance may not make apparent. For instance, how many of the steam traps are leaking or putting quality condensate to the slab? What do the flame patterns look like within the firebox, both from a visual and a thermal scan basis? Have heater/boiler excess oxygen targets been set at reasonable values and optimised to the same? Are manual spillbacks open on pumps and compressors, thereby wasting energy? • Opportunities will exist within both the energy and process side, so make sure to examine the impact of a change of energy usage on the process implications. Fundamentally, the overall asset must still achieve profitable, safe, and reliable operation, so complete a holistic review to evaluate the impact of a shift in energy on these key elements. Benchmarking is important and gives one the measuring stick of current status and future progress, but one has to get down to the technical level to identify specific opportunities, rationalise them, and determine the right disposition for those changes. • A high level of on-stream reliability of the utility infrastructure is critical for asset integrity, so when looking at major shifts within the steam, fuel, and power systems, consider the redundancy implications and requirements. As an example, many facilities will progress to a higher degree
How does one start to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions? As with most journeys, one must start with a plan and a pathway to achieve the targeted improvement. Figure 1 outlines an approach used within Becht to engage in energy optimisation activities, and the reader is encouraged to create their own approach that fits the specific needs of their site and improvement goals. A few key learnings and considerations when preparing and executing this methodology are: • An accurate set of energy balances for the existing asset is absolutely critical. Given that the utilities systems are often the ‘forgotten’ part of the overall asset (until a problem arises or an energy optimisation study is completed), getting this information on an individual user and producer basis can be challenging. To close data gaps, consider adding measurement devices on key consumers or producers, using original design information to provide an initial estimate, and leveraging process simulations and chemical engineering basics to generate synthetic data on a given piece of equipment’s performance. As the adage goes, one cannot control what is not measured. • Field measurements and evaluations of equipment condition are just as important as completing the engineering analysis. Often, a
Figure 1 An approach used within Becht to engage in energy optimisation activities
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