Macroscopic Approaches of Process Integration

The systems perspective is a fundamental trait of process integration activities. Indeed, the hallmark of process integration is the holistic perspective, which emphasizes the unity of the system and accounts for the interactions among the internal components of the systems as well as the interactions with the external components (e.g., surroundings, environmental). The system boundaries can be drawn around a direct-recycle network, a mass-exchange network, a heat-exchange network, a cogeneration network, or the whole plant. In this chapter, the boundaries are expanded to go beyond the plant and to include the surrounding environmental systems. Because of the general applicability of process integration, there is a consistent approach in treating macroscopic systems in way similar to how individual process plants are treated. The chapter will focus on the following areas: