The application of an industrial demand-side management expert system for the analysis of electroheat technology retrofits

The nature of drying technology presents opportunities for targeting energy inefficient processes and for proposing solutions through load management programmes, incorporating various levels of technical procurement. A knowledge based simulation has been developed that allows for the direct comparison of a range of drying technologies and for each, the associated energy costs, atmospheric emissions and manufacturing implementation. It is intended that this will form a single module within a significantly larger Integrated Energy Programme (IEP), directly targeted towards process improvement opportunities. The fuzzy logic decision support system has proved applicable for the approximate modelling of dryer behaviour. This paper has demonstrated the potential for using an artificial intelligence technique for market-led energy efficiency programmes within industrial sub-sectors, particularly in situations where complex process modelling is necessary