Exergy analysis of an industrial sulphuric acid plant

This paper presents an exergy analysis of an industrial 45 Ton/day sulphuric acid plant. Magnitude and location of irreversibilities for the main equipment of the process have been quantified. Gross irreversibilities represent 78.4% and exergy gains represent 11.4%; i.e., net irreversibilities of the plant are 67.1%. Irreversibilities due to chemical reactions and heat transfer are 26.4% and 52.1%, respectively. For chemical reactions the greatest irreversibilities are located at the furnace, while for heat transfer the greatest irreversibilities are located in the waste heat boiler and the heat exchanging network of the catalytic converter. The obtained exergy efficiencies are consistent with those reported in the literature for sulphuric acid production plants. Further improvements in exergy efficiencies could be reached by resetting operating conditions and by reconfiguring the heat exchanging network of the catalytic converter.