CEED - Custom and Efficient Early Design

Context: Energy and water challenges

According to the International Energy Agency (World Energy Outlook 2016), despite the impressive progress made in recent years, the transition of energy supply towards a low-carbon future is not yet in view. Such a transition requires enhanced efforts of all parts of the energy sector with energy efficiency as key element. In industry in particular, energy efficiency is the major potential contributor in order to economize direct GHG (Greenhouse Gases) emissions.

Regarding water consumption, it is important to bear in mind that about 60% of refining and petrochemical sites are subject to a water stress that is considered medium to high, and 25% are located in areas where precipitation is expected to decrease.

What is CEED?

In order to cope with these challenges and based on its strong knowledge in process and technology, Axens offers an innovative approach, CEED, standing for “Custom and Efficient Early Design". At the beginning of the basic engineering stage, the customer selects a set of criteria representing its specific priorities and constraints, for instance energy efficiency, CO₂ emissions, or water footprint. Axens then works with them to conduct a study, enabling several options to be elaborated and evaluated, all tailor-made to meet operators’ needs. A CEED study deliverable is a powerful customer decision-support tool. Indeed it ensures that the selected scheme is based on a solid foundation optimizing both the project’s environmental impact and economics.

 A powerful decision-support tool

 CEED: How?

The basic engineering design phase is the best moment for an operator to optimize use of every resource. Regarding energy efficiency, in addition to PINCH analysis, which is commonly used in the industry, CEED studies rely on in-house tools developed with IFP Energies nouvelles. Innovative equipment can also significantly reduce the project’s environmental footprint (lower energy and/or water consumption, etc.), that’s why CEED studies involve our team of equipment specialists and our extensive network of equipment manufacturers.

Within a short period of time, CEED studies required in-depth exchanges with site operator teams in order to provide the best customized solutions. These interactions have a very low impact on basic design engineering schedules. Above all, as a technology licensor, Axens ensures that the proposed optimal scheme is robust and safe considering all the flexibility needs such as various operating modes, start-up needs and specific catalyst treatment steps. Therefore additional scrutiny by another layer of experts is not warranted, potentially saving our clients significant cost and schedule impacts.