CHNG3807

Products and value chains

Andrew Harris
The University of Sydney
Department of Chemical Engineering

The future of energy supply

Andrew Harris1,2
1Laboratory

for Sustainable Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Sydney, AUSTRALIA
2Darwin College, University of Cambridge, CB3 9EU, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +61 2 9351 2926, Fax: +61 2 9351 2854
aharris@chem.eng.usyd.edu.au

Energy Information Administration (EIA) (www.eia.doe.gov)

Energy consumption in Australia

Australia is one of the few OECD countries that is a

significant net energy exporter.

Australia is the world's leading coal exporter and its

fourth largest producer.

Proven oil and natural gas reserves have nearly

doubled in recent years.

Despite this it has a growing oil deficit.

As of January 2000, Australia had an electrical

generation capacity of 43 million kilowatts (or
gigawatts). Approximately 84% of this capacity was
thermal (mostly coal) and 14% of it was from
renewables (mostly hydro).

In 2000, Australia contributed 1.5% of the world's

total energy-related carbon emissions whilst using
1.2% of the worlds energy.
This is the highest per capita carbon emission
rate in the developed world (Australia Institute,
2000).

what are some alternatives?

introduce end of pipe solutions

reduce global energy consumption
improve energy efficiency, introduce demand management
sustainable and renewable energy (cleaner, low carbon)
carbon sequestration
hydrogen economy

Renewable energy

The developed world relies heavily on fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural
gas) for its energy.
Fossil fuels are non-renewable, i.e. they draw on finite resources that
will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally
damaging to retrieve.
In contrast, renewable energy resources are constantly replenished.
Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun.
Examples include solar, biomass, wind, hydro and geothermal.

Additional resources

http://sequestration.mit.edu/index.html
http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/climate/
http://www.iea.org/
http://www.smartoffice.com/principles.htm
http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/carbontrust/climate_change/iocc4_4_1.html
www.wwf.org.au/News_and_information/
Publications/PDF/Report/clean_energy_future_report.pdf
http://www.wwf.org.au/News_and_information/Features/feature10.php

Zero emission process design

Creating processes that have no waste streams.
They make use of synergistic industries clustered
around the plant to achieve this, e.g. ZERI brewery,
mushroom farm, fish farm, piggery and steam
generator.
There are opportunities for zero emission processes
in all industries across Australia and around the
world.
e.g. zero emission coal technology in Australia.

Zero emission coal

Handout

Process design in 5 minutes

Process Flow Diagrams (PFD)

Detailed Equipment Design
Site Layout
Process Economics

Purpose of PFDs

Communicate the principal operational steps in a process

Show all major feeds, products, by-products and wastes
Show all major processing units
Give basic mass and energy balance details
Show utility streams and usages

Features of PFDs

All equipment has a code (e.g. T-101 = tank 101)

Often company standard

Coding letter relates to equipment
Number relates to item in class
First number often plant section First number
often plant section (cf. T-101, T201)

Coding can include:

T = tank, R = reactor, C = column, P = pump, M =

mixer, F = filter, D = dryer, HX = heat exchanger,
Q = furnace, V = vaporizer, G = gas movers

Features of PFDs

Spatial layout important

Flow from left to right

Equipment well spaced
Top section for identifiers and description
Bottom section for M&E Table
Adapt for P&ID
Equipment to follow vertical orientation as much as possible
much as possible

Preparation of PFDs

Do rough sketch first

Select appropriate icons for units, number streams
Layout to reduce cross cross-over lines
Do draft drawing
Get someone else to check and sign off