Thermodynamic limits to energy optimization

Second-law analysis is used to develop an energy optimization model based on the maximum reuse of exergy contained in the heat flows which emanate from industrial processes. In general, the optimization problem is non-linear. It can be made accessible to linear programming if one considers the energy losses due to smaller-than-unity conversion efficiencies as irrecoverable. Primary energy input is the objective function to be minimized by use of the simplex algorithm. Heat exchangers, heat pumps and cogeneration of electricity and heat are the energy-conservation technologies taken into account.