Sequencing problems in designing energy efficient production systems

A sustainable development of world economy implies that industrial energy conservation is indispensable. Therefore, managerial aspects of industrial energy conservation need to be studied. In this article, a tool is described that enables to study the influence of sequential decision making on the design (choice of unit operations) and, consequently, on the specific energy consumption of a production system. Results show that by taking decisions sequentially, the energy conservation potential may be reduced drastically. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that with the described tool it is possible to select that combination of non-optimum unit operation that when combined with each other build an optimum production system from an energy point of view.