Einstein – Expert System for an Intelligent Supply of Thermal Energy in Industry Audit Methodology and Software Tool

Abstract

For optimizing thermal energy supply in industry, a holistic integral approach is required that includes possibilities of demand reduction by heat recovery and process integration, and by an intelligent combination of efficient heat and cold supply technologies. EINSTEIN is a tool-kit (methodology and software tool) for fast and high quality thermal energy audits in industry, composed by an audit guide describing the methodology and by a software tool that guides the auditor through all the audit steps. The main features of EINSTEIN software tool are: (1) a basic questionnaire helps for systematic collection of the necessary information with the possibility to acquire data by distance; (2) a fast consistency checking and estimation of missing data, so that already with very few data some first predictions can be made; (3) a standardized model for industrial processes and industrial heat supply systems; (4) semi-automatisation: the software tool gives support to decision making for the generation of alternative heat & cold supply proposals, carries out automatically all the necessary calculations, and creates a standard audit report. Over 150 auditors have been trained in several training courses and the software tool has been tested within 90 audits in 6 European countries. The result of these 90 audits showed a big potential of CO2 savings by energy efficiency and the implementation of renewable energy like solar process heat or CHP.

The green brewery concept – Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in breweries

“…In the case studies the thermal energy supply optimization has been studied for breweries via a methodological approach [18]. The optimization approach includes the development of target benchmarks via calculation of thermodynamic minimal energy demand, consideration of technology change, a bottom-up approach for heat integration via the pinch analysis and the integration of renewable energy based on the process temperatures and exergetic considerations rather than the existing utility system.…”

Two Analytical Methods for Optimising Solar Process Heat System Used in a Pasteurising Plant

“…Thermal efficiency and exergy analysis must be done for each component to achieve the optimum parameter. It can be by using Pinch analysis [12], system advisor model (SAM) [15], or using the audit methodology which was developed by the EINSTEIN project (Exert system for an INtelligent Supply of Thermal Energy In Industry) [16].…”

Design of a Database of Case Studies and Technologies to Increase the Diffusion of Low-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery in the Industrial Sector

“…EU policies have highlighted the evidence of this opportunity, thanks to which several European projects such as Einstein and Einstein II [13,14], Greenfoods [15], and sEEnergies [16] have been developed. In addition to the development of useful support tools, all these projects have had the great merit of emphasizing the unexpressed potential of waste heat recovery.…”