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There is significant room for improvement in the circulating water systems of petrochemical enterprises. Author/Source: Sinochem New Network. Date: June 25, 2019. Clicks: 62. On June 20, a conference on energy-saving technologies for circulating water systems in petrochemical enterprises was held in Yingtan, Jiangxi. The participants believed that the circulating water systems have high overall energy consumption, and that the equipment and management levels in enterprises vary widely; most enterprises have significant room for improvement and potential for energy savings. Carrying out energy-saving optimization upgrades to the circulating water system is of great significance for helping petrochemical enterprises reduce energy consumption and achieve green development. Li Yongliang, deputy director of the Industry Development Department of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation and secretary-general of the China Chemical Energy Conservation Technology Association, said that from 2016 to 2018, energy efficiency across the industry continued to improve; the energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of revenue in the petrochemical industry decreased by 10%, a rate that was among the highest among all industrial sectors. However, the total energy consumption in the oil and chemical industry remains high; in 2018, it was 587 million tons of standard coal. The upward trend in energy consumption has not changed fundamentally, and the peak levels of energy consumption and carbon emissions in this industry have not yet been reached. Zhou Junhua, deputy director of the Energy Conservation and Low-Carbon Development Division in the Industry Development Department of the Petrochemical Federation, analyzed that there are numerous problems and challenges associated with energy conservation and consumption reduction in this industry: it is subject to stricter industrial policies and legal regulations; the energy efficiency levels within the industry vary, with key products such as synthetic ammonia, methanol, and ethylene still having relatively high average energy consumption rates. The rapid development of coal chemical industries has increased the industry’s demand for energy and water resources. The industries focused on energy conservation and low carbon emissions started developing late, are small in scale, and lack strong innovation capabilities. In particular, there is a shortage of flexible and efficient service models that meet the requirements of modern industries, and further improvement is needed in the construction of such service systems. Li Yongliang said that in the face of various internal and external pressures, technological energy conservation is the most important aspect of an enterprise’s efforts to save energy. In the petrochemical industry, the circulating water system is one of the essential systems for production; it consumes a significant amount of energy. Pumps in particular account for about 25% of the industry’s total electricity consumption and 8% of its overall energy use. Improving the energy and water efficiency of these pumps is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of enterprises, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing operational efficiency. Regarding energy-saving technological upgrades for circulating water systems, many enterprises still have misconceptions at present. Hu Hongmin, the chief engineer of Jiangxi Sanchuan Energy Saving Co., Ltd., said, “Many enterprises have not yet fully realized the urgency of implementing energy-saving technological upgrades.” Some companies entrust technological upgrades to their internal staff, who often lack a comprehensive understanding, leaving significant energy-saving potential untapped. Some companies also believe that saving water and electricity is equivalent to purchasing energy-saving equipment, without taking into account all aspects of the production system, resulting in poor outcomes from technical upgrades. ” In response to this, Hu Hongmin suggested that, first, energy-saving upgrades should be entrusted to professional teams, who can carry out such upgrades after thorough research and by taking into account all aspects of the entire system. Second, since energy-saving upgrades require significant investment and involve high risks, it is advisable to adopt the contract energy management approach, thereby eliminating any investment or risk for the companies that use energy. Third, it is important to always prioritize safety, and to implement energy-saving upgrades in a planned and systematic manner, without disrupting normal production and operations. This conference was organized by the China Chemical Energy Conservation Association and hosted by Jiangxi Sanchuan Energy Conservation Co., Ltd.