Design of Solar Thermal Hot Water System for Industrial Processes

Rising sea levels, flash floods, energy crises, and increasing global temperatures are some of the side effects of the ever-increasing use of fossil fuels. The analysis of global energy resources shows a gap between fossil fuel use and renewable energy. Of these, solar energy currently ranks the lowest in usage by industry. Solar energy is abundant, non-polluting, and can satisfy the heat demand of low to medium-temperature range industrial processes, but an appropriate methodology is required for its uptake. Pinch Analysis determines the minimum hot utility required, and solar thermal energy satisfies 53 % of this requirement. Analysing the process interaction with the solar thermal fluid can give a better strategy for suitable integration. The process is analysed to determine the Heat Exchanger Network (HEN), and a solar thermal stream is introduced in the network. It becomes pertinent to see the effect on HEN and solar thermal collector areas. A single stream from the process is used to analyse and establish the interaction between the solar thermal system and the process. This analysis leads to developing a methodology for appropriately integrating solar thermal energy in industrial processes.