An Overview of Energy and Exergy Analysis to the Industrial Sector, a Contribution to Sustainability

Raúl Arango-Miranda, Robert Hausler, Rabindranarth Romero-López, Mathias Glaus and Sara Patricia Ibarra-Zavaleta
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Raúl Arango-Miranda: Station Expérimentale des Procédés Pilotes en Environnement, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest Local A-1500, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Robert Hausler: Station Expérimentale des Procédés Pilotes en Environnement, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest Local A-1500, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Rabindranarth Romero-López: Unidad de Investigación Especializada en Hidroinformática y Tecnología Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Veracruzana, Lomas del Estadio s/n, Zona Universitaria, Xalapa 91000, Veracruz, México
Mathias Glaus: Station Expérimentale des Procédés Pilotes en Environnement, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest Local A-1500, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Sara Patricia Ibarra-Zavaleta: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana. Av. de las Culturas Núm.101, col. Emiliano Zapata. Xalapa 91090, Veracruz, México

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Globally, industry remains one of the main consumers of fossil fuels; hence, it is one of the prime sources of greenhouse gases (GHG). Exergy analysis methods can be applied to detect the processes inefficiencies. To enhance the interconnection of the exergy and the environment theories, renewable share and exergy efficiency are suggested, in a contribution to sustainability. Exergy analysis is proposed and lifted to study the industrial sector. Even though exergy analysis has been applied to study societies, few studies have been conducted to study emerging-market economies. In 2015, Mexico’s crude oil production was the 12th biggest worldwide, therefore fossil fuels are still the main source to produce energy for the domestic and productive sectors of the Mexican society. Consequently, a prospective study case in Mexico is suggested. The industrial sectorial exergy consumption amounts 1350 PJ in 2000, increasing to 1591 PJ in 2015. Both energy and exergy efficiencies show similar results along the 16 years, with average energy and exergy efficiencies of 78% and 23%, respectively. In comparison with results of similar studies, Mexican exergy efficiency falls within the ranges, yet below the average of 48%. Thus, poor efficiency is still occurring in the sector. Our proposal could provide significant opportunities to become a more sustainable sector, based on the exergetic renewable share and the exergy efficiency.

Keywords: climate change; energy; exergy analysis; greenhouse gases; industrial sector; Mexico; exergetic renewable share; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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