PFD reviews can be used as a stand-alone technique for identifying and organizing
opportunities for improving energy efficiency on virtually any type of process plant.
However, most often they form part of a larger energy efficiency initiative, such as an
overall site energy assessment, or a step in the development of an energy management
system. They are also often used in conjunction with a pinch analysis to explore a wide
range of energy efficiency options for a process or production site.
While there are many considerations to an effective PFD review, and hidden traps
that must be avoided, the investment of time and resources in conducting a thorough
review such as the one described in this chapter invariably pays big dividends, as there
are invariably numerous economically attractive opportunities for improvement in
today’s complex refining, petrochemical, and other process plants