Two established process technologies confirmed by entropy production minimization

The method of entropy production minimization for finding energy efficient paths of operation of process equipment is first presented using an instructive example with optimal control theory. With reference to the earlier investigations, the researchers present some design rules that relate to the designs’ entropy production. Minimum entropy production is not obtained in special cases, not generally, by equipartition of entropy production or of thermodynamic forces. the researchers show that two well established industrial technologies, namely the Haldor Topsoe steam reformer and the Linde technology for air separation understood in terms of the design rules. The entropy production minimization technique is thus able to predict well proven technology, technology that has developed over several decades. This gives an argument for early use of this technique in the designing phase of energy intensive processes.