ABSTRACT

In this work, we present a methodological framework under the form of an algorithmic procedure for the determination of energy indices that can be used in process engineering as part of industrial management. Dimensional analysis has been adopted in order to derive/synthesize dimensionless indices, useful for (i) process design during the scale up procedure and (ii) connecting economic with engineering variables by achieving internalization of both categories of variables within the same function of total cost. From the managerial point of view, the present work is based on the concepts developed by the first of the authors, as regards the checking/monitoring of operations in small/medium enterprises by means of characteristic indices. An implementation of this procedure is also presented in the case of heat transfer of Newtonean fluid to the wall of an agitated vessel, which is a unit operation frequently met in several industrial plants.