Benchmarking Industrial Systems Using Energy at Risk and Benchmark Energy Factor Concepts

While DSM programs consider energy consumption (E_Used) as a whole, proposed method splits energy in 2 (two) specific components: Ideal energy (E_Ideal) and Energy at Risk (E@R). Considering these two types of energy a Benchmark Energy Factor (BEF) can be defined. BEF compares the energy used by an industrial system or process, Eused to the minimum energy required to accomplish the task at hand Eideal. Ideal energy (power) can be very accurate calculated by using adequate (well known) laws of physics chosen function of the work type performed by Drive End-use Equipment (DEE), therefore a solid (not empirical) baseline for benchmarking system will be available. That will eliminate traditional variability that uses variable baselines as "best practice" or other criteria. Volatile comparative element across an industrial sector will be replaced with a theoretical goal. BEF enables a new approach towards energy efficiency in industrial sector and help level the playing field for energy management. It will be demonstrated that (E@R) variation is embedded in (BEF). Proposed method makes possible to determine accurately the (E@R) under variable material and environmental conditions making possible to manage the energy losses. The rating is then solely based on how close the true energy consumption within an industrial process gets to that ideal state. Paper proposes a rating system model to describe the energy-efficiency for any industrial process independent of a comparison with other processes. Case studies assessing industrial conservation opportunities by using (E@R) and (BEF) concepts on various industrial sectors and processes (IS&P) are presented.