Steps of a Process Integration Study

Process integration is a highly effective approach to improving the energy efficiency of large and complex industrial facilities with energy-intensive systems.

A process integration study performs a comprehensive and systematic analysis of a plant or process as a whole, rather than considering individual operations and integral parts of an energy system separately. This thorough overview makes it possible to identify the best strategies for an efficient energy and resource use.

A process integration study follows a rigorous and structured approach, one that is usually comprised of 7 steps. The steps may differ slightly from one facility to the next, depending on the complexity of the plant, study objectives, available data and specific plant staff requirements. However, in most cases, the various steps of a process integration study are as follows:

1. Creating a simplified energy streams diagram
2. Performing a mass and energy balance
3. Carrying out a detailed energy balance of complex energy-intensive equipment
4. Analyzing potential modifications to operating conditions
5. Performing a Pinch analysis
6. Conducting a techno-economic pre-feasibility study
7. Selecting projects and developing an implementation strategy

To learn more about process integration, download the process integration brochure (PDF, 351 KB).