VIDEO | DOW explains how they saved energy with low pressure steam reuse

Watch our in-depht interview with Kees Biesheuvel of DOW. And learn how he managed to get all the neccessary support to get this pilot started!

In the context of knowledge sharing, Project 6-25 visited USG at the Chemelot site. During our interview with Kees Biesheuvel of DOW, we got some in-depht insights in the energy efficiency solution they’ve implemented: flue gas heat recovery.

Pilot project at DOW – Kees Biesheuvel
At the Dow Benelux production site in Terneuzen, various types of plastics are made, such as polyethylene and polycarbonate, by means of cracking Nafta. Several plants on the site have a continuous surplus of low-pressure steam, for example at a level of 3 barg. Currently, this steam is condensed, as a result of which its heat content is lost. By means of steam recompression (thermal or mechanical) condensation of the low-pressure steam can be avoided and valuable steam at a pressure level of 12 barg can be generated. This steam can be used for processes or drive of turbines.

Pioneering with Mechanical Vapour Recompression
At the time of the start of this project, mechanical vapour recompression (MDR) was practically not yet applied in the Dutch process industry. The compressors that are to be used in this technique are already used in today’s dairy and salt extraction industry. These compressors had to be adapted to cope with the higher process conditions prevailing in the vast majority of other industries. For Dow Benelux Terneuzen, a MDR installation has been successfully designed and installed.

Results so far
For this project, both a DEI grant has been awarded and a Green Deal has been made. The plant was completed in Q2 of 2019 and reduces 10 million Nm3 of natural gas consumption on an annual basis, corresponding to 17.8 ktonnes of avoided CO2 emissions.

In this case we discuss how the project came about, which barriers stood in the way of realization and how they were overcome. Finally, he gives tips and suggestions to other asset owners.

> With special thanks to DOW, BlueTerra and KicMpi.

Or listen to the complete documentary via Podcast – in Dutch: