Energy advisory services

A large percentage of the energy put into heating processes does not end up where it was intended. ProHeat’s unique skill is in understanding and optimising the energy flows within a process.

We support clients with in-depth technical knowledge and have the necessary experience to carry out energy audits and performance modelling of indirect heating systems.

Through a combination of insight and use of best-available technology, heating processes can be optimised to unlock flexibility and performance.

Performance Audits – Whole-system performance analysis offering an overview of energy use, losses and process flexibility to meet real-world demand scenarios

Process Optimisation – Recommendations for optimisation driven by insight into process dynamics to support energy conservation, process flexibility and cost savings

Innovation Delivery – From the state-the-art in two-phase heater transfer to AI enhanced control systems, ProHeat is uniquely placed to provide from concept identification to commercial deployment

Client project – Adaptive temperature control using artificial intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are powerful tools which can be applied to realise untapped potential for process flexibility and control.

ProHeat Systems in collaboration with a major gas network operator are pioneering development of a process temperature controller powered by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. The adaptive controller easily integrates with existing heating plant to provide proactive load response and dampen temperature fluctuations.

Temperature control applications enhanced with AI and machine learning offer potential to significantly reduce – sometimes eliminate – control errors.

Applications for ProHeat’s new AI controller include optimisation of steam boilers, boiler houses, water bath heaters, process heaters and district heating networks.

Process heat demand forecasting using
Artificial Intelligence

Client project – Assessing the impact of overdelivery of heat on indirect heater fuel gas use

ProHeat was contracted to review the accuracy of temperature control over six indirect heater installations located on a gas distribution network. The intention of the study was to quantify potential for fuel savings from improved control.

Key Findings

Where heat demand was variable or changing rapidly, heaters in the study were slow to adapt, resulting in overheating and underheating

Control lag and response inertia limit flexibility to accommodate changes in process heat demand. Control performance would benefit from greater insight into heat demand

Overdelivery of heat into process represented up to 30% of energy use, highlighting a significant opportunity for optimisation

Overdelivery of heat as a % of annual fuel consumption

Client project – Strategic heat study

Lagging is known to be a contributing cause of piping corrosion where progressive reduction of thickness can lead to industrial accidents due to reductions in pipe strength.

One solution is to remove existing lagging materials from the pipelines containing heated gases or liquids at the expense of heat losses during the cold seasons. It is also crucial to ensure that heating capacities remain adequate after if additional heat losses are introduced.

ProHeat has developed a Lagging Decision Support Tool to quantify heat losses associated with the removal of lagging on hot pipework. The software allows users to conduct energy consumption assessments to inform investment decisions where energy savings can be weighed against integrity concerns.

Through a combination of customisable physical site information with historic process data, the heat loss model is able to produce pipe or site-specific energy performance profiles.

Key findings

Annual pipework heat losses in six gas pressure reduction / city gate stations ranged from 0.5% to 6.5%

Where pipework was predominately located above ground with lagging removed, heat losses ranged form 3% to 6.5%

Where pipework was predominately located below ground, heat losses were negligible at <1.3%

Energy advisory services

Client project – Adaptive temperature control using artificial intelligence (AI)

Process heat demand forecasting using
Artificial Intelligence

Client project – Assessing the impact of overdelivery of heat on indirect heater fuel gas use

Key Findings

Overdelivery of heat as a % of annual fuel consumption

Client project – Strategic heat study

Key findings

Pipeline heat losses as a % of annual fuel consumption

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London office

Energy advisory services

Client project – Adaptive temperature control using artificial intelligence (AI)

Process heat demand forecasting using Artificial Intelligence

Client project – Assessing the impact of overdelivery of heat on indirect heater fuel gas use

Key Findings

Overdelivery of heat as a % of annual fuel consumption

Client project – Strategic heat study

Key findings

Pipeline heat losses as a % of annual fuel consumption

Process heat demand forecasting using
Artificial Intelligence