Calculation of the Least Energy Demand as Energy Benchmark for Applied Production Processes Based on the Unit Operation Model
This paper presents the Least Energy Demand as a comprehensive reference value for evaluating energy efficiency. An objective evaluation and calculation of the energy efficiency of production processes represents a substantial challenge with regard to the state of the art. The reason for this is the lack of appropriate reference values. A comprehensive comparison of the energy efficiency is not possible without consistent reference values. However, this comparison is essential for revealing the actual energy savings potential of production processes and for establishing actions on its basis. Therefore, the first step is to define the general conditions necessary to transfer the model concepts from the microscopic to the macroscopic level for the calculation of the Least Energy Demand. Then, the transferability is verified by reducing the macroscopic material parameters, which determine the amount of the Least Energy Demand significantly, to their atomic interrelations. Moreover, the unit operation-specific Least Energy Demand EGM is introduced on the basis of the unit operation and can be spent through several forms of energy. In conclusion, the importance of the EGM as a reference value for evaluating the energy efficiency of production processes of the DIN 8580 is explained. The EGM of the evaluated production process is the result of the energetic interrelations of the unit operation (s). These are identified and shown for the considered production process according to the DIN 8580.