Discovering the potential of absorption refrigeration system through industrial symbiotic waste heat recovery network

Waste heat recovery technology (WHRT) is gaining much attention from both researchers and industrial players as it can reduce the electricity usage and the environmental impact. Waste heat released in the form of low grade heat such as steam, flue gas and hot water can be utilized to drive an absorption refrigeration system (ARS) for chilled water production. In previous work, chilled and cooling water network (CCWN) was synthesized within an eco-industrial park (EIP) to enhance energy conservation. However, the integrated CCWN from the previous work was configured using vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS), a conventional method that uses electricity to generate chilled water. The main aim in this work is to extend previous work by integrating CCWN in centralized VCRS and ARS utilizing various types of waste heat that exist in a total site. A case study was presented to study the economic performance and sustainability of cooling resources by recovering different waste heat in an integrated EIP. The main contribution in this paper is to propose an integrated energy system to simultaneously reduce industrial waste emission and the overall energy consumption of the CCWN.