However, some of the largest energy efficiency improvements in the process industries have come through technological advances.
For example, improvements in catalysts have allowed some processes to operate at less extreme temperatures and pressures, and with improved conversion and selectivity—all changes that tend to reduce energy usage.
Technological advances have also improved some of the key equipment items that impact energy usage, such as heat exchangers (Chapter 10) and distillation columns, and incorporating some of the new types of equipment that are now commercially available can often lead to improved engineering solutions.